Inside Story: What Led To Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's Shock Exit

An Opposition-sponsored move to remove a judge after a massive cash recovery from his home may have set in motion the chain of events that eventually led to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's shock resignation last night.

Amid the intrigue surrounding the Vice President's resignation, citing health grounds, the sources said that by accepting the Opposition's notice, Mr Dhankhar ran afoul of the Centre's plan to target corruption in the judiciary. The sources have also indicated that Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation may have spared him a government-backed no-confidence motion.

At the heart of it all is an Opposition-backed notice for a motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, who hit the headlines after a massive cash recovery at his official residence. When Rajya Sabha met for the Monsoon Session yesterday, Opposition MPs moved the notice. Mr Dhankhar, Chairman of the Upper House, accepted the notice and asked the House's secretary general to take necessary steps.

This move, sources have said, did not sit well with the government, which intended to lead the offensive against the judge and corruption in the judiciary. Rumblings began of a move to bring a no-confidence motion against Mr Dhankhar -- just six months after the Opposition brought such a motion against the Vice President. Mr Dhankhar, a veteran politician, got wind of this and opted to step down.

At 9.25 pm yesterday, the official X handle of the Vice President shared a resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu.

"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. I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency, the Honourable President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing, wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure," Mr Dhankhar wrote in the letter.

"I express my deep gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office. The warmth, trust, and affection I have received from all the Hon'ble Members of Parliament would ever be cherished at and embedded in my memory. I am deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights I have gained as Vice President in our great democracy," he wrote.

The resignation, which was accepted today, sent shockwaves through the corridors of power.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wished Mr Dhankhar good health and said he served the country in various capacities.

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.

श्री जगदीप धनखड़ जी को भारत के उपराष्ट्रपति सहित कई भूमिकाओं में देश की सेवा करने का अवसर मिला है। मैं उनके उत्तम…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 22, 2025

Sources cited "health grounds" while revealing that there may be no farewell speech by the Vice President.

Senior Congress leaders described the development as "inexplicable" and a "riddle wrapped in mystery rolled in an enigma".

Opposition leaders flagged the absence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju at a 4.30 pm meeting of the business advisory committee and said this upset the Vice President. The Opposition also flagged Mr Nadda's remarks in the Rajya Sabha yesterday. "Only what I say will go on record," Mr Nadda, the Leader of the House, said during Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's address. The remark, some said, disrespected the Chair, which alone has the authority to conduct House proceedings, and Mr Dhankhar was upset by this.

Mr Nadda today trashed these theories. "Kiren Rijiju and I could not attend the 4.30 pm meeting called by the Honourable Vice President because we were occupied with another important parliamentary engagement. Prior intimation regarding this was duly conveyed to the Vice President's office," he said. "Also, when I said in the Rajya Sabha that 'only what I say will go on record', it was directed at the interrupting opposition MPs -- not at the Chair," he said.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said: "Only he (Mr Dhankhar) knows the reason. We have nothing to say on this. Either the government knows or he knows. It is up to the government to accept his resignation or not."

The 74-year-old Vice President had, just 10 days ago, said he would retire at the right time, August 2027, "subject to divine intervention".

The Timeline Of Swift Developments

July 21, 12.30 pm: The Vice President attends the meeting of the business advisory committee, panel decides to meet at 4.30 pm again.

2 pm: Vice President Dhankhar accepts the Opposition-backed motion, the government is not pleased

4.07 pm: Vice President informs the House that the Opposition-backed motion has been accepted.

4.30 pm: The business advisory committee meets, no representative from the government is present, the meeting is deferred.

5 pm: Congress leaders meet the Vice President, another meeting with Opposition MPs follows

9.25 pm: Mr Dhankhar announces his resignation through Vice President's handle on X

12 pm, July 22: President Murmu accepts the resignation