'Wish him good health': PM Modi on Jagdeep Dhankhar's shock resignation

The Prime Minister wrote on X, "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."

After attending the inaugural day of the monsoon session of Parliament, Dhankhar on Monday night announced his resignation citing "medical advice" and said he would "prioritise" his health.

In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he said his resignation will be effective immediately.

"To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance wills Article 67(a) of the constitution," his letter read.

In the letter, he thanked the President "for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure".

"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 letter read.

A politician and lawyer, Dhankar took over as the Vice President of India on August 11, 2022.

Prior to his role as the VP, he served as the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022.

He also served as a Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar ministry from 1990 to 1991, and served as a member of Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991.

Between 1993 and 1998, Dhankar was a Member of Rajasthan's Legislative Assembly. He has been affiliated with multiple political parties in India, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC), and the Janata Dal (JD).

Congress suspects 'far deeper reasons' behind Dhankhar's resignation

In a lengthy post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh referred to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and other senior minister Jagat Prakash Nadda's absence in a meeting called by Dhankhar at 4:30 pm on Monday.

Dhankhar, as Ramesh claimed, rescheduled the meeting for Tuesday keeping in view of the two ministers' absence.

Ramesh writes on X, "So something very serious happened yesterday between 1 PM and 4:30 PM to account for the deliberate absence of Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday."

"Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation," he adds.