President Murmu accepts Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation; notification to be issued soon

President Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Vice President of India.

Her approval has now been sent to the Home Ministry, and a notification on the same will be issued soon.

Dhankhar, 74, resigned from his post citing health reasons on Monday.

“To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,” the resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, which was posted on the Vice-President’s official X account, said. He had called on President Murmu in the evening.

Dhankhar had suffered a cardiac event in March but was said to have recovered and had been participating in his engagements since.

The rest of the letter expressed his “deep gratitude” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers as well as the “warmth, trust and affection” that he had received from MPs.

"I am deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights I have gained as Vice President in our great democracy. It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India's remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nation's history has been a true honor," Dhankhar's letter further read.

The move has come as a surprise to many leaders, as  Dhankhar had presided over Rajya Sabha proceedings on the first half of the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday.  It included an important intervention in the Opposition-sponsored motion for removal of High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. He didn’t return for the post-lunch Session but spoke to MPs and floor leaders till evening.

Dhankhar’s journey from the village of Jhunjhunu to becoming the 14th Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is a testament to his struggle.

Born on 18 May 1951 into a Jat farmer family in Kithana, a small village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, he was instilled with the values of simplicity and hard work by his parents, Gokal Chand and Kesari Devi.

Dhankar assumed the office of Vice President on 11 August 2022, succeeding Venkaiah Naidu. The Vice President holds office for five years. So, Dhankhar should have continued to be the Vice President until August 2027.