Just before shock exit, how Dhankhar's unscheduled meeting with President Murmu alarmed Rashtrapati Bhavan staff

Before his shock exit, former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar took Rashtrapati Bhavan staff by surprise with an unscheduled meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.

A Times of India report on Wednesday said that officials at Rashtrapati Bhavan were alarmed when they saw Dhankhar turn up without a prior appointment.

According to the report, this was a rare instance — possibly the first in a very long time — when a senior dignitary arrived at the presidential estate without prior notice.

The usually quiet corridors of Rashtrapati Bhavan were suddenly abuzz with unfamiliar chatter. The report added that the ADC (aide-de-camp) had reportedly rushed to the Military Secretary to inform him about Dhankhar’s unexpected arrival.

Shortly after the meeting was arranged, Dhankhar announced his resignation via his official account on X at 9:25 pm on Monday. The report suggested that the suddenness of the move indicates there may have been a trigger that led the former Vice-President to step down in such haste.

On Tuesday, President Murmu formally accepted Dhankhar’s resignation. An Indian Express report noted that Dhankhar’s decision to accept the Opposition's notice to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma did not sit well with the Centre.

There has been no official word from the government on Dhankhar’s resignation, apart from a brief post on X by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.