New Delhi: Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, 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,” Dhankhar wrote in his letter to the President.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency – the Hon’ble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure,” he wrote.
“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,” Dhankhar added.
“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 stated.
“It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India’s remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nation’s history has been a true honor,” the outgoing Vice President said.
Dhankhar’s resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. This session is likely to be stormy with the Opposition seeking statements from the Government on issues such as the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and the role of the US in the cessation of operations against Pakistan.
The 74-year-old is an eminent lawyer. He has been a Union minister in the past and was also the Governor of West Bengal before being appointed Vice President.