President Droupadi Murmu has formally accepted the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who stepped down from his post citing medical reasons. The resignation, tendered on Monday evening, was officially notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and came into effect immediately.
The resignation was made under Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution, which allows the Vice President to step down by submitting a letter of resignation to the President.
In his resignation letter, Mr Dhankhar wrote, "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 was received by the President on Monday evening and acknowledged the following day.
Dhankhar, who was elected to the high office in 2022, had nearly two years remaining in his term. His decision to step down has come as a surprise to many in the political fraternity. Jagdeep Dhankhar, a veteran politician and former Governor of West Bengal, had been widely respected for his tenure in public office.
BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was presiding over proceedings in Parliament on Tuesday, made the announcement on record. He informed the House that the President had accepted Mr Dhankhar’s resignation and that the Home Ministry had communicated the development officially under Article 67A.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to “X” to express his appreciation for Dhankhar’s service. “Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health,” the Prime Minister wrote.
With the position of Vice President now vacant, the Election Commission of India is expected to announce a schedule soon for electing a new candidate to the post.
