Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday, July 21, resigned from the post of Vice President of India, citing health-related concerns. In his statement, Dhankhar described his tenure as a period of immense pride, highlighting the privilege of witnessing and contributing to India’s rapid economic growth and transformative development.
“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 said in his resignation note.
“Serving during this pivotal phase in the nation’s history has been a true honour,” he added.
With the Vice President’s office now vacant, a formal election to appoint a successor must be conducted within 60 days, as mandated by the Constitution. The election will be held using the proportional representation system through the single transferable vote, with an electorate comprising all members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
In the interim, the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha will serve as the Acting Chairperson of the Upper House. Currently, that role is held by Harivansh Narayan Singh, who has served in the position since August 2022. He will discharge the responsibilities of the Chairperson until a new Vice President is elected.
Dhankhar previously served as the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. Earlier in his political career, he was the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar government from 1990 to 1991, and a Member of the Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991. From 1993 to 1998, he served as a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. Over the years, Dhankhar has been associated with multiple political parties, including the Janata Dal, the Congress, and later the BJP.
