Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns citing medical reasons

New Delhi: In a development that caught the political establishment by surprise, Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation on Monday, citing health concerns and the need to prioritise medical care. The announcement came on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, marking a rare instance of a senior Indian constitutional functionary publicly stepping down for personal health reasons.

In his resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar, 74, expressed gratitude to the President, Prime Minister, and MPs for their cooperation during his tenure. He specifically referenced his hospitalisation at AIIMS-Delhi in March 2025 for cardiac-related issues as the key factor behind his decision. “In accordance with medical advice, and in exercise of the privilege under Article 67(a) of the Constitution, I have deemed it prudent to prioritise healthcare,” he wrote.

Dhankhar assumed office as India’s 14th Vice-President on August 11, 2022, serving as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. His tenure was notable for assertive parliamentary interventions, as well as controversy, most recently his sharp criticism of a Supreme Court order directing Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi to decide on pending state bills within 30 days. Dhankhar’s comment that the use of Article 142 amounted to a “nuclear weapon against democracy” had triggered a national debate on the separation of powers.

The resignation’s timing, just as Parliament reconvenes, has prompted speculation among political analysts, with some suggesting that Dhankhar’s health issues may have been underplayed in public until now. Historical trends indicate that Indian politicians often reveal health problems only at critical junctures, raising questions about transparency at the highest levels of office.

Dhankhar’s immediate departure sets in motion the process to elect a new Vice-President, as required by Article 68 of the Constitution. Until a successor is chosen, constitutional procedures provide for the President to step in as necessary.

Political reactions have begun to surface, with the opposition expected to weigh in on both the timing and political implications of the resignation. For the ruling BJP, Dhankhar’s exit marks the end of a tenure characterised by both parliamentary assertiveness and institutional friction.

As the process to find his successor begins, Dhankhar’s resignation highlights the challenges, and realities, facing Indian public life at the intersection of duty, health, and political strategy.