"Wishing Him Good Health": PM Modi On Jagdeep Dhankhar's Exit As Veep

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished Jagdeep Dhankhar good health following the latter's resignation as Vice President last night. The Prime Minister also noted that Mr Dhankhar 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," the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

Mr Dhankhar wrote to President Droupadi Murmu yesterday, announcing his resignation and citing health reasons. "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," he wrote in the letter, also shared on X by the Vice President's official handle.

"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 Vice President's decision came as a surprise. Less than two weeks back, at an event at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, he said he would "retire at the right time, August 2027, subject to divine intervention". His term as Vice President was to end in August 2027. 

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said only Mr Dhankhar or the government knows the reasons behind his shock resignation. "Only he 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," he told the media. Other Congress leaders described the development as "inexplicable" and a "riddle wrapped in mystery rolled in an enigma". The government has remained tight-lipped so far.