A day after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as Vice President, citing health reasons, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that the 74-year-old is a healthy man and doing absolutely fine.

“I don’t want to make any comment about this. Let’s see what happens. He is a healthy man. I think his health is absolutely okay,” Banerjee said of Dhankhar, with whom she had frequent run-ins during his tenure as West Bengal Governor from 2019 to 2022.

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Dhankhar’s resignation came after he chaired the first day of the Monsoon Session in the Upper House as Rajya Sabha Chairman, which saw disruptions and subsequent adjournment.

Even the harshest of his critics in the Opposition, with whom Dhankhar had frequent run-ins during his tenure and even moved to impeach him, said there was more to it than it met the eye.

Slamming the BJP amid a row over Dhankhar’s resignation, Banerjee said, “First set your own house in order. Douse the fire inside your own house before you try to put it out elsewhere. Sort your own house first and no need to target Bengal.”

During Dhankhar’s nearly three-year tenure as West Bengal Governor, his relationship with Banerjee was notably turbulent and frequently marked by public confrontations and political sparring.

Famously, Dhankhar had actively used his official X handle to comment on state affairs, often criticising the ruling Trinamool Congress government, which led to Banerjee to block him on the platform. Banerjee had accused Dhankhar of overstepping constitutional boundaries and provoking unrest, while the-then Governor claimed he faced verbal attacks from ministers and ‘indignities’ in his role.

DHANKHAR RESIGNS AS VICE PRESIDENT

Dhankhar, who resigned on Monday, became the Vice President in August 2022 and was to complete his term in 2027.

In his resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said, “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.”

Under Article 67 of the Constitution, which deals with the term of office of the Vice President, the Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will manage the day-to-day affairs until a new Vice-President is elected. On the other hand, Article 67(a) says that before the expiry of his term, the Vice-President may resign by submitting his resignation to the President in writing.

President Murmu on Tuesday accepted Dhankhar’s resignation. Following his exit, a vice presidential election is expected to be held soon.

– Ends