Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns: Urgent Timeline, Numbers, and the NDA-Opposition Faceoff in Vice President Poll

Breaking News: Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Abrupt Exit Triggers Search for New Vice President

A Sudden Resignation That Shook Lutyens Delhi

On the muggy evening of July 21, 2025, the power corridors of India’s capital bristled with uncertainty. Jagdeep Dhankhar, the 74-year-old Vice President of India—just months into the third year of his five-year term—submitted his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. In a nation accustomed to political churn, his exit still sent a rare jolt, the reverberations felt across both Houses of Parliament and political camps of all hues.

“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,” wrote Dhankhar in his letter, thanking both President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi for their support during his tenure.

What made the resignation particularly dramatic was its timing: the very first day of the Monsoon Session and in the midst of an escalating row over judicial accountability. The Vice President, ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, had earlier in the day acted on a rare motion against a sitting High Court judge, sparking a blizzard of behind-the-scenes political meetings and drawing the government’s focus to a constitutional emergency.

Election Commission Moves Swiftly

Within 48 hours, the Election Commission of India (ECI) stated it had initiated preparatory work for the Vice Presidential election. As per constitutional mandate, a formal election must be held within 60 days to ensure constitutional continuity.

In its statement, the ECI said, "On completion of preparatory activities, the announcement of the election schedule to the office of the Vice President of India will follow as soon as possible".

Fast Facts: The Vice Presidential Election Process

• Only Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members) vote—state legislatures do not participate.

• Current effective strength eligible to vote: 786 Members of Parliament, after accounting for vacant seats.

• Majority required to win: 394 votes, assuming full turnout.

• NDA support base: About 422 MPs (293 in Lok Sabha, 129 in Rajya Sabha), an apparent comfortable buffer over the required simple majority.

• Opposition (INDIA bloc) faces numbers deficit and internal friction, though determined to contest.

Who Will Step Into the Void?

Prominent names doing the rounds for the NDA’s nominee include Harivansh Singh, the current Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and a trusted government ally. The Opposition, meanwhile, is expected to nominate a candidate as a symbolic contest—if not, in reality, a numerical one.

Senior BJP strategist:

“We are still processing it. But I believe the party will choose someone who is a solid choice and is non-controversial”.

Why Did Dhankhar Resign—And What’s Next?

Although the resignation was attributed to health reasons, many political leaders and commentators called for more transparency given its suddenness. Just twelve days earlier, Dhankhar had publicly declared he would retire in August 2027 “subject to divine intervention.” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “Something very serious must have transpired between 1pm and 4:30pm… It caught the entire political establishment off guard,” alluding to possible institutional pressure or political discord.

While speculation swirls outside the formal record, sources from the government confirm that Dhankhar’s decision followed a high-level meeting attended by top ministers, and that Prime Minister Modi was briefed immediately after the critical parliamentary developments.

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