The resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has sparked a political storm, with opposition leaders openly questioning the official explanation of “health concerns” and alleging deeper political friction within the ruling establishment.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, known for his confrontations with Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha, was particularly blunt, saying:
“His health is fine... He always defended the RSS and the BJP. I can see 'dal mein kuch kaala hai'. The country deserves to know the truth.”
This skepticism has gained traction due to the silence of the BJP and the government's delayed and minimal response—especially a curt tweet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi nearly 15 hours after the resignation. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi highlighted this as proof that Dhankhar's resignation was not a personal decision but politically influenced. Even Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav mocked the situation, questioning why no BJP leader had visited Dhankhar if health was truly the reason.
Adding fuel to the fire is a behind-the-scenes power tussle that reportedly led to Dhankhar's exit. According to political insiders, the flashpoint was Dhankhar's decision to admit an opposition-backed motion in the Rajya Sabha to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma—a judge under scrutiny after a massive cash haul was discovered at his residence. The BJP-led government, which had been preparing a similar impeachment motion in the Lok Sabha, saw Dhankhar’s action as a political ambush that robbed them of their anti-corruption narrative.
By endorsing the opposition’s motion first, Dhankhar unintentionally (or not) pre-empted the government’s move, embarrassing it and creating a rare instance of institutional friction between the Vice President’s office and the executive.
Though no official explanation beyond “health concerns” has been given, the situation has clear political undertones. The lack of coordinated messaging from the BJP, combined with Dhankhar’s previously staunch support of the party, has only deepened the mystery—and opposition leaders are unlikely to let the matter rest anytime soon.
