Jagdeep Dhankhar-Government Rift: Inside Story Behind Shock Resignation
By : Krishna Mishra
New Delhi:
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation on Monday night, officially attributed to “health reasons,” has sparked political tremors in Delhi. While the public statement suggested a personal health issue, exclusive details accessed by NDTV point to a deeper rift between the Vice President and the Union government — culminating in an unexpected power clash.
The Trigger: A Judicial Showdown
At the heart of the controversy lies Dhankhar’s decision to accept an impeachment motion by opposition MPs against Justice Yashwant Varma, a High Court judge allegedly linked to a major cash scandal. Sources claim that Dhankhar, as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, accepted the motion without informing the government, catching the Centre off guard.
The government had reportedly planned to take the lead on Justice Varma’s removal, even collecting signatures from opposition MPs for a Lok Sabha motion. But Dhankhar’s move undermined this strategy — a breach that senior government officials viewed as politically damaging.
Fallout and Internal Meetings
Following Dhankhar’s unilateral action, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened an urgent meeting with top ministers. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took charge of coordination, and BJP MPs were summoned in groups to sign a counter-motion — a rapid attempt to reclaim the narrative and show strength.
BJP and NDA MPs were instructed to stay in Delhi for four days, ready for potential action. Meanwhile, Dhankhar was informed of the developments — a sign that the party machinery was swiftly moving into damage-control mode.
Allegations of Repeated Overreach
As part of the pushback, senior ministers reportedly briefed MPs on instances where Dhankhar had “crossed the line,” embarrassing or challenging the government. These included episodes where he allegedly criticised central policies or undermined government authority — a pattern dating back to his tenure as West Bengal Governor, known for frequent clashes with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Sudden Resignation
Before any formal confrontation could unfold, Mr Dhankhar resigned, catching many off-guard. At 9:25 PM on Tuesday, his resignation letter was posted on his official X account.
“I resign to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice,” he wrote in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu. Dhankhar also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and praised the “transformative era” in which he served.
Despite having two years left in his term, the former Vice President made no direct reference to the ongoing political tensions in his letter.