PM Modi on Dhankhar’s resignation: ‘Wishing him good health…’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday wished Jagdeep Dhankhar “good health”, a day after the latter resigned from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice."

“Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

Dhankhar's resignation letter, which was sent to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday evening, was accepted by her today.

In his letter to the President, Dhankhar said, "To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution."

"I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency - the Hon'ble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure," the letter added.

The Vice President also expressed his deep gratitude to PM Modi and the Council of Ministers. "Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time at office," the letter read.

Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022.

Several questions have been raised over the sudden resignation of Dhankhar, with some opposition leaders suggesting there's more to it than what meets the eye.

Congress leader Sukhdeo Bhagat suggested that Dhankhar's resignation might have been preplanned, citing the "disappearance" of Union Minister JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held earlier on Monday. While praying for Dhankar's good health, the Congress MP also mentioned that the Vice President's resignation was "sudden" and "unexpected," saying that if Dhankar stepped down due to health reasons, then he could have done it before the commencement of the Parliament monsoon session, ANI reported.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also questioned Dhankar's resignation, stating that there are "far deeper reasons" behind it, citing the "deliberate" absence of Nadda and Rijiju from the BAC meeting.

"At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior ministers were not attending. Rightly, he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today (July 22) at 1 PM," the Congress leader said in the post.