Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns as Vice President of India, Citing Health Reasons

The Voice of Chandigarh News:

In a significant development, Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned from his post, citing health concerns. The resignation was submitted to President Droupadi Murmu under Article 67(a) of the Constitution, which allows a Vice President to resign by addressing a written letter to the President.

Dhankhar, who assumed office as the 14th Vice President in August 2022, had been facing recurring health issues in recent months. He underwent a cardiac procedure at AIIMS earlier this year and reportedly fainted during a public event in June.

This marks only the third time in India’s history that a Vice President has resigned before completing a full term. Previous instances include V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman, both of whom resigned to contest the presidential election.

Following the resignation, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, will preside over proceedings of the Upper House until a new Vice President is elected. According to Article 68 of the Constitution, the Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule soon, and the new Vice President will be elected by members of both Houses of Parliament through a secret ballot using the proportional representation system.

Dhankhar’s tenure was marked by his assertive role as Rajya Sabha Chairman and frequent engagements with constitutional matters and parliamentary affairs.