Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation on Monday evening, July 21, 2025, has ignited a political firestorm, with Congress and BJP engaging in a heated war of words over the circumstances surrounding his decision to step down. What was officially described as a move owing to “health reasons” by Dhankhar has been interpreted by the Opposition as a response to a perceived slight during a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting in the Rajya Sabha.

The BAC meeting, a critical forum for determining the legislative agenda of the upper house, convened twice on Monday — first at 12:30 PM and later at 4:30 PM. While Union Ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju attended the first session, they were conspicuously absent in the latter one. Instead, Union Minister L Murugan represented the government.

According to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, this absence wasn’t just a routine scheduling issue but a significant event that prompted Dhankhar to resign. In a detailed post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ramesh laid out a chronology of events, highlighting that Dhankhar was not personally informed about the absence of the two senior ministers. The Vice-President reportedly took offense at this breach of protocol, rescheduling the BAC meeting for the following day and later tendering his resignation.

Ramesh's post read:

“At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar. 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.”

He added that although Dhankhar has cited health reasons for resigning, there were “far deeper reasons” at play, pointing to his frustration with the erosion of institutional norms and the ruling regime’s alleged disregard for parliamentary decorum. Ramesh praised Dhankhar as a man who, despite supporting post-2014 India, often stood up for farmers’ welfare, spoke against arrogance in public life, and advocated for judicial accountability.

On the other hand, BJP leaders and government sources have rejected Congress’s version of events, labeling it as political opportunism. They clarified that the Vice President’s office was informed about the ministers' unavailability due to other urgent meetings, and that no breach of protocol occurred. BJP President JP Nadda spoke to reporters to personally clear the air, stating:

“The Vice President’s office was intimated about our inability to attend the meeting.”

CNN-News18 sources within the government stated that no official confirmation was provided for the 4:30 PM BAC meeting and that scheduling conflicts were communicated. The BJP considers the Opposition’s attempts to politicize the situation as “most unfortunate.”

The Broader Context of Dhankhar’s Tenure:

Jagdeep Dhankhar, aged 74, took over as Vice President in August 2022 and was scheduled to serve until 2027. During his nearly three-year tenure, he was frequently in the spotlight for confrontations with Opposition leaders, especially in his role as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. His time in office was also marked by a historic move—an unprecedented motion filed for his removal, a first in independent India against a sitting Vice President.

Despite his pro-government posture, Dhankhar often spoke candidly on issues of national concern. His speeches touched upon the importance of farmer welfare, parliamentary dignity, and checks on judiciary overreach. According to observers, he tried to maintain balance in an increasingly polarized political climate.

However, the consistent erosion of protocols, as perceived by him, and non-cooperation from some quarters in government may have exacerbated his dissatisfaction, culminating in his exit from the constitutional post.

Speculation and Reactions:

The resignation has triggered a wave of speculation, with leaders across the political spectrum reacting. Some have praised Dhankhar for his commitment to parliamentary propriety, while others are probing possible political motivations or power dynamics within the BJP leadership.

Congress believes that the "health reason" cited is merely a pretext, and that Dhankhar’s decision was a symbolic protest against the government's disregard for parliamentary values. The BJP, however, insists there is nothing unusual about the resignation and that the Opposition is exploiting the event for political mileage.

As of now, Dhankhar has not issued a farewell speech, and sources indicate he is unlikely to attend Rajya Sabha proceedings in the coming days.

What Happens Next?

With the Vice President’s post now vacant, political circles are abuzz with speculation about the successor. This sudden turn of events may have constitutional and legislative implications, especially in a crucial period where the government is preparing to push key bills through Parliament.

A new BAC chairperson will have to be appointed, and the Opposition may seek more transparency in ministerial conduct going forward. Dhankhar’s exit might also force the BJP leadership to reconsider its internal coordination and communication strategies, particularly when dealing with high-ranking constitutional authorities.

This development underscores the delicate balance between protocol, politics, and power in India’s parliamentary democracy. While official statements maintain a diplomatic tone, the underlying tensions suggest a complex narrative of institutional strain and political maneuvering.

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