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In a move that startled the political class and bureaucracy alike, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his constitutional post late Monday, submitting a formal letter to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Dhankhar, 74, cited pressing health concerns as the reason for stepping down, according to a letter released by his office at precisely 9:25PM. “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,” the letter read.
The Vice President’s Secretariat confirmed the timeline, stating, “The resignation letter was received by the President’s office at 9:25PM and accepted forthwith.” The announcement followed a routine series of meetings earlier in the day, including a Business Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 1PM, which has now been cancelled.
Earlier, in the afternoon, Dhankhar presided over proceedings in the Rajya Sabha as Chairman, showing no visible signs of malaise or hints at his impending decision. At 3:53PM, an official post announced an upcoming visit to Jaipur — plans abruptly abandoned, say officials present in New Delhi.
At 7:30PM, according to parliamentary sources, opposition MP Jairam Ramesh spoke to Dhankhar by phone. “He was at home with family, discussing health matters, and mentioned he would talk the next day,” Ramesh later recounted.
It is only the third time in Indian history that a Vice President has left office before completing the five-year term. Dhankhar was elected in August 2022 and was set to serve until August 2027.
At the Parliament complex, word spread quickly after the news broke. Prime Minister’s Office issued a brief statement at 10:01PM, “We acknowledge Vice-President Dhankhar’s decision and wish him a speedy recovery.” President Murmu accepted the resignation within the hour, an official in Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed.
As of this morning, officials from the Rajya Sabha confirmed that Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh would chair the House until a successor is chosen, in line with constitutional procedure.
No further official details regarding the next steps or election schedule were announced at the time of filing this report. Jagdeep Dhankhar’s abrupt exit has left one of India’s highest constitutional offices vacant — a rare event marked solely by the official record and the evening’s silence.