'Ego that came from ...': In alleged Jagdeep Dhankhar vs govt rift, this may have been the last straw

Jagdeep Dhankhar

Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar ran afoul of the government over the last few months, with his opposing stance on the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma emerging as the final straw in the growing rift.

Dhankhar's unexpected resignation on July 21, mere hours after the first day of Parliament's monsoon session, has sparked multiple theories behind his exit. The opposition has refused to buy the former Vice President's official explanation that he quit due to health grounds.

According to a report in NDTV, sources said that there was growing uneasiness between Dhankhar and the government over the last year. They added that Dhankhar’s decision to proceed with the opposition-backed motion in the Rajya Sabha to impeach Justice Verma—despite being informed that the Lok Sabha would move the motion first—became the tipping point.

The report said that the former VP was specifically told to put the matter to rest and end his "judicial activism".

"A rare combination of an attempt at judicial activism and ego that came from holding constitutional power," one of the sources told NDTV.

They alleged that the former Vice President sought to be treated on par with the President, insisting on having the final say on matters such as the type of luxury car and aircraft used, as well as staff appointments.

Moreover, Dhankhar also allowed leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak at length in Rajya Sabha on Monday during which he questioned the government over the Pahalgam terror attack. The former Rajya Sabha deputy chairman also cut off JP Nadda during the proceedings, who was "visibly angry" at the gesture, sources added.

NDTV reported that senior leaders like Arjun Ram Meghwal, Kiren Rijiju and JP Nadda met Dhankhar three times in the week leading up to the session, urging him to delay the motion against Justice Varma to allow time for consensus and include ruling party MPs. However, Dhankhar stood firm.

News18, quoting sources, also reported that Dhankhar was told about the government's plan to introduce a motion in Lok Sabha for the removal of Justice Verma three-four days before the session. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju personally reminded the former Vice President of this before the session. However, Dhankhar did not give any indication about a counter-motion from the opposition.

On Monday, he met Opposition leaders, accepted the signatures, and made clear he would read the motion in the House. "That's when the ruling coalition started mobilising an impeachment motion against Dhankhar himself," a source told NDTV.

The report added that the move was planned to "pressurise" the Vice President, with most senior ministers agreeing that there was no other option.

Sources also told NDTV that the opposition's failed impeachment bid against Dhankhar marked a turning point in his ties with the government, adding that the former Vice President started favouring the opposition MPs following the December 2024 motion.

The opposition leaders had accused Dhankhar of partisanship in presiding over the Rajya Sabha. The motion was eventually rejected by Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who said it was “bereft of facts and aimed at securing publicity.”

But sources suggest that Dhankhar’s actions following the defeated motion eventually put him on a collision course with the government.