Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday claimed that there is something fishy about Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation as the vice president and asked the government to clarify on it.

Kharge claimed that Dhankhar used to “defend” the BJP and the RSS more than the the BJP-RSS people themselves, but still had to resign.

“The government must answer why he resigned, what are the reasons, what is the secret behind it. We feel that ‘daal mein kuch kaala hai (there is something fishy)’. He seems healthy and always keeps a good vocabulary. But what happened? He used to defend the BJP and the RSS more than the BJP-RSS people themselves,” the Congress president said.

Such was Dhankhar’s loyalty towards the BJP-RSS, Kharge added.

“At such a time, he has given his resignation, so the country should be informed what is the reason and who is behind this?” he told reporters.

On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks exhorting people to imbibe ‘Indianness’ and show the world the answers to all problems it is facing, Kharge said they are rewriting history.

“Jawaharlal Nehru wrote Discovery of India but they reject that. They also reject what our professors of history say. Their history is different and the history of the country is different,” Kharge said.

In a sudden move on Monday night, Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday evening, citing medical reasons. He sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he is stepping down with immediate effect.

The Congress on Tuesday claimed the reasons behind Dhankhar’s resignation as vice president are “far deeper” than health issues cited by him, and said his resignation speaks highly of him but poorly of those who got him elected to the post.

Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was till 2027.

He was also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha and his resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.

Dhankhar had recently undergone angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

In his eventful tenure as the Rajya Sabha chairman, Dhankhar had several run-ins with the opposition, which had also moved a motion to impeach him.

The motion, the first time ever in independent India to remove a vice president, was later rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.

NEW DELHI: It is said there are no permanent friends or foes in politics. This was proved true once again when the surprise exit of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice-President on health grounds on Monday turned many of his sworn critics into well-wishers.

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This even as most of the NDA leaders – with whom Dhankhar had worked closely since he took office in August 2022 – refrained from making any comments.

The opposition, which had moved an impeachment motion against Dhankhar in December last year – accusing him of being partisan and acting like a government spokesperson, questioned the government over his sudden exit and even called for reinstatement of the former VP in “nation’s interest.”

The

, which called Dhankhar’s abrupt exit “forced resignation”, had words of praise for the former Vice-President. However, Congress chief Kharge refrained from commenting on the resignation and said “Only he knows the reason. We have nothing to say on this. Either the government knows or he knows. ”

Here is what Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in his reaction on Dhankhar’s resignation:

“While always lauding the post-2014 India, he spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called ‘ahankar (arrogance)’ in public life, and strongly on judicial accountability and restraint.”

“Dhankhar took both the government and the opposition to task in equal measure.”

“We wish him the best of health but also request him to reconsider his decision. We also expect the Prime Minister to get Mr Dhankhar to change his mind. This will be in the nation’s interest.”

Now, contrast this with what the Congress had said about the former Vice-President in December last year over Dhankhar’s frequent runs-ins with the opposition members.

This attack then was led by Kharge.

“The RS chairman acts like school headmaster and gives sermons to experienced opposition leaders while stopping them from speaking.”

“Politics has taken precedence over rules in Rajya Sabha. The chairman has indulged in partisan behaviour. His conduct has been contrary to the post’s dignity and he targets opposition leaders and often praises the government of the day.”

“The Chair of the Upper House works as a ‘government spokesperson’.”

Little wonder, the

has been quick to take digs at opposition’s “concerns”. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took a jibe at the opposition for expressing shock over Dhankhar’s resignation.

“Opposition is playing the role of Kader Khan in the film,” Dubey posted on X while citing a news report from December last year where the opposition parties moved to impeach Dhankhar from the Vice President’s office and accused him of being “partisan”.

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But while the opposition’s “change of heart” can be debated, the big question that remains is why did Dhankhar quit in a rush? The opposition claims health was not the real reason and there was more to it than meets the eye.

Urging the government to speak up, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi said: “This is very sad, and whatever happened is not normal. A akhad (stubborn) person like him, who used to come to the Parliament even when sick, citing health reasons for resignation, doesn’t seem normal.

The government should speak on it. It is silent and it indicates that everything is not normal.”

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram demanded transparency from the government.

“I don’t believe that Vice President is in such precarious health that he can’t discharge his functions anymore. This looks like one of those Soviet style resignations when, in those days, high-ranking officials were asked to go citing medical reasons.

However, in India, which is an open democracy, we need to have far greater transparency. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Hopefully, in the coming days, we will have some transparency,” Chidambaram told ANI.

And while the “worried” opposition had nice things to say about Dhankhar, the usual effusive praise that is showered on an occupant of a high office on his or her departure was conspicuously missing from the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s side.

Barring Prime Minister Modi, who put out a brief post, most of the leading government figures refrained from offering any comment.

“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 on X.

Jairam Ramesh reacted sharply to

‘s post and said: “PM’s non-post on X regarding Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar’s forced resignation has only added to the mystery of his abrupt exit. Surely the PM could have been a bit more gracious — he is, after all, the supreme master of hypocrisy. The kisanputra is being denied even a dignified farewell.”

And while speculations will continue on Dhankhar’s exit, it is interesting to see how the opposition, once at the receiving end of the former Vice-President, is now heaping praises on him.

(With inputs from agencies)

NEW DELHI: Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation from the post of Vice President has triggered an unexpected wave of admiration from opposition MPs, many of whom had previously clashed with him over alleged partisanship.

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Several leaders who once accused Dhankhar of bias or filed a no-confidence motion against him are now urging him to reconsider his decision, hailing him as a “kisanputra” (son of a farmer) deserving of a dignified farewell.

Among them is Congress president and leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha,

, who had often accused Dhankhar of not allowing him to speak in the House. Kharge repeatedly claimed that the Chair violated tradition by denying him the floor during crucial debates.

Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh, who once said Dhankhar behaved like a “cheerleader for the government” instead of a neutral umpire, had been the subject of a pending privilege notice for alleged disrespect to the Chair. Ramesh had also led the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Dhankhar, accusing him of conducting House proceedings in a “highly partisan” manner.

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However, post-resignation, Ramesh took a markedly different tone.

In a post on X, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should persuade Dhankhar to withdraw his resignation, calling it “in the nation’s interest.”

“The kisanputra is being denied even a dignified farewell,” Ramesh wrote, describing Dhankhar’s resignation as “totally unexpected” and speculating whether his active role in processing two impeachment motions a day earlier had played a part. “He was his good jolly self while presiding yesterday,” Ramesh added, calling the move mysterious.

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He also claimed the resignation reflected more on those who elevated Dhankhar to the Vice President’s role than on the man himself.

Kapil Sibal, another senior lawyer and former Union minister, had earlier been publicly rebuked by Dhankhar over his comments on a rape and murder case in Kolkata and for not attending House proceedings regularly. Despite those clashes, Sibal praised Dhankhar after his resignation, calling him “nationalist and patriotic,” and said he bore no ill will.

“He used to speak his mind and never held grudges,” Sibal remarked.

Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress, who had numerous confrontations with Dhankhar, was once told in the House, “Your conduct is ugliest. I will show you the door next time.” He was also accused of indulging in theatrics during debates and was suspended during the Winter Session of 2023 for “misconduct.”

Other TMC leaders—Sagarika Ghosh, Saket Gokhale, and Kalyan Banerjee—had even mimicked Dhankhar during a protest, leading to further reprimands from the Chair.

AAP MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh, both suspended from the House during Dhankhar’s tenure, also had repeated clashes with him. Dhankhar’s sessions with actor-politician Jaya Bachchan too were contentious—Bachchan once demanded an apology for what she called “disrespect towards women MPs.”

Senior Congress lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi also drew Dhankhar’s ire after a bundle of ₹500 notes was found near his seat, leading to sharp words from the Chair.

Despite all this, the tone across opposition ranks has shifted dramatically in the wake of Dhankhar’s resignation, with several leaders now suggesting his departure leaves a gap in parliamentary functioning—and expressing concern that his exit may not be as voluntary as it seems.

(With PTI inputs)

NEW DELHI: The

on Tuesday questioned Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation from the Vice President post, saying the reasons are “far deeper” than the health concerns he mentioned in his letter to President Droupadi Murmu.

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The grand old party also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief message on social media, calling it a “non-post” that only adds to the mystery surrounding the abrupt decision.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in his post on X, “PM’s non-post on X regarding Shri Jagdeep Dhankar’s forced resignation has only added to the mystery of his abrupt exit. Surely the PM could have been a bit more gracious — he is, after all, the supreme master of hypocrisy.”

He added, “The kisanputra is being denied even a dignified farewell.”

Prime Minister Modi had earlier posted 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.”

The Congress also urged the government to come forward with a full explanation for the resignation.

Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha expressed surprise, saying Dhankhar appeared cheerful while presiding over the House just a day earlier.

“While presiding over Rajya Sabha yesterday he was his good jolly self!! Did the way he proactively handled the 2 impeachment motions (Justice Yadav & Verma) yesterday the last straw!!” he posted on X.

Later, speaking to reporters, Tankha added, “It’s very unexpected. It shouldn’t have happened the way it has happened. There is an issue because he is healthy. He was in a jovial mood. However, something happened in the afternoon.

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Ministers didn’t appear for his meeting. He might have felt insulted.”

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal also said the government must explain why the vice president suddenly stepped down.

Jairam Ramesh further explained that Dhankhar chaired the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Rajya Sabha at 12:30 PM on Monday, which was attended by several members, including Union ministers J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju.

However, when the BAC reassembled at 4:30 PM under Dhankhar’s chairmanship, both Nadda and Rijiju were absent. “It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 PM,” Ramesh posted.

“So something very serious happened yesterday between 1pm and 4:30pm to account for the deliberate absence of Nadda and Rijiju from the second BAC,” he added.

Ramesh said Dhankhar’s decision to resign was unprecedented. “Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar 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 also praised Dhankhar for standing up on key issues. “While always lauding the post-2014 India, he spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called ‘ahankar (arrogance)’ in public life, and strongly on judicial accountability and restraint,” Ramesh said.

“To the extent possible under the current G2 ruling regime, he tried to accommodate the Opposition. He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities,” he added.

“Jagdeep Dhankar’s resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as vice president in the first instance,” Ramesh said.

The Congress had earlier appealed to Prime Minister Modi to convince Dhankhar to reconsider.

“We wish him the best of health but also request him to reconsider his decision. We also expect the Prime Minister to get Mr Dhankhar to change his mind. This will be in the nation’s interest,” Ramesh said.

He added that farmers in particular would be relieved if Dhankhar decided to stay on.

Dhankhar, 74, took office as vice president in August 2022 and had over two years remaining in his term. He submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday evening, citing health reasons and stepping down with immediate effect.

Ramesh, who was with him earlier in the day, said in a post on Monday night, “The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 PM today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 PM.”

“No doubt Mr Dhankhar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye,” he said, while adding that this was not the time for speculation.

He also revealed that Dhankhar had called for a BAC meeting at 1 PM on Tuesday and was expected to make major announcements related to the judiciary.

NEW DELHI: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation has stirred political speculation, but his brother-in-law and advocate Praveen Balwada insists the decision was driven purely by health concerns—not political pressure, as alleged by opposition leaders.

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Speaking to PTI, Balwada said Dhankhar had never bowed to external influence throughout his career. “Things like political pressure were not there. He never took pressure of any kind. I have known him since college days. I have never seen him under pressure,” he said.

Balwada revealed that Dhankhar had been dealing with health issues for some time, including “a stent implant procedure in March. He has had persistent issues with low blood pressure.”

“Being a workaholic and highly sincere towards his work, he must have felt that it was becoming difficult to justify both health and work together,” he added, as reported by PTI.

Balwada also recalled that Dhankhar was not particularly enthusiastic when he was appointed as the Governor of Rajasthan. This time, he believes, Dhankhar “has honoured his family’s wishes,” reported PTI citing Balwada.

However, Dhankhar’s resignation has triggered sharp reactions from opposition leaders, who continue to raise questions about the timing and motive.

Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the health-related explanation “doesn’t seem convincing,” suggesting Dhankhar may have been working under political pressure.

The Congress party also formally urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to persuade Dhankhar to withdraw his resignation. Party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh, who also serves as the chief whip in Rajya Sabha, described the resignation as “inexplicable,” hinting there was more to it than meets the eye.”

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Ramesh claimed Dhankhar was expected to make significant announcements concerning the judiciary on Tuesday, the same day he had convened a crucial meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) to decide the week’s agenda for the Upper House.