'Something Very Serious Happened': Congress Hints At Deeper Reasons Behind Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Sudden Resignation

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation, citing health issues, has left many surprised and raised eyebrows across political circles.

While he said he was stepping down for medical reasons, Congress, which tried to impeach him earlier, believes there’s more to the story, suggesting “far deeper reasons” behind his unexpected decision.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the official explanation, pointing to events preceding Dhankhar’s resignation, The Hindu reported..

He said the Vice-President chaired a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting at 12:30 PM, attended by key ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for 4:30 PM, but both ministers failed to attend.

“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 at 1 PM,” Ramesh posted on X.

He added, “Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation.”

Ramesh speculated, "So something very serious happened yesterday between 1 PM and 4:30 PM to account for the deliberate absence of Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday."

Ramesh described Dhankhar as someone who “spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers” and criticised “ahankar in public life.” He said Dhankhar’s resignation “speaks highly of him” but poorly of “those who got him elected.”

The Congress urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to persuade him to reconsider, saying, “This will be in the nation’s interest.”

On Monday evening (21 July), Dhankhar, 74, submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu.

He had recently undergone angioplasty at AIIMS and was expected to continue his duties, including a BAC meeting and announcements on judicial matters.

However, during his eventful tenure as Rajya Sabha Chairman, Dhankhar often clashed with the Opposition, which at one point even moved an impeachment motion against him, a first in independent India’s history.

The motion was eventually rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.

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