Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns as Vice President citing health reasons

New Delhi: Jagdeep Dhankhar has formally resigned from the post of Vice President of India, citing health concerns and the need to prioritise medical advice on Monday. His resignation, submitted in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution, comes into effect immediately.

In a heartfelt letter addressed to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar expressed deep gratitude for her unwavering support and the cordial working relationship shared during his tenure.

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“To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately,” wrote Dhankhar in the resignation letter, which he also shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He signed off with the Sanskrit phrase "Rātryameva jāyane" (रात्र्यमेव जायने), a poetic expression, before appending his name in Devanagari script as "Feluf Dhankha."

Dhankhar, who served as the 14th Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha since August 2022, said it had been a privilege to serve during a transformative period of India's history. He highlighted India’s “remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development” during his tenure.

Expressing appreciation for the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Dhankhar said, “The Prime Minister’s cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office.”

He also thanked Members of Parliament for their warmth, trust, and affection, calling those relationships "deeply cherished." The outgoing Vice President added that he was proud to witness Bharat's global rise and remains confident in the country’s brilliant future.

Prior to assuming the Vice Presidency, Jagdeep Dhankhar served as the Governor of West Bengal and had a long career in law and public service, including a term as a Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

The resignation creates a vacancy in the constitutional post, and a formal notification from the Election Commission of India regarding the process to elect the next Vice President is expected shortly.

This marks the first time in recent history that a sitting Vice President has stepped down before completing a full term due to health-related reasons.

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