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‘There’s More Than Meets The Eye’: Congress MPs Suspect ‘Govt Pressure’ Behind VP Dhankhar’s Sudden Resignation
ABP Live News | July 22, 2025 2:11 AM CST

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, in an unexpected move, stepped down with immediate effect from his post citing medical reasons. After he announced his resignation, the leaders of the opposition parties suspected that Dhankhar resigned due to pressure from the central government, saying, "there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye".

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X to express shock over Dhankhar's resignation. While he acknowledged it was important to prioritise health, Ramesh also suggested that the Vice President's decision was influenced by some other factors.

"The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 PM today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 PM. No doubt Mr. Dhankar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye," he wrote. 

Wishing him good health, the Congress leader also said that he expected PM Modi to get Dhankhar to change his mind in the nation's interest.

Notably, Dhankhar on July 10 said he will retire in August 2027. Addressing an event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, he said, "I will retire at the right time, August 2027, subject to divine intervention,” news agency PTI reported.

Madhya Pradesh Assembly LoP and Congress leader Umang Singhar also echoed similar sentiments saying, "I believe there's political motivation from the BJP behind this. Was his health really at risk? The way he commented on the Ministry of Agriculture earlier today, maybe BJP didn't like it."

Calling it a shocking news, Congress MP Neeraj Dangi also said that Dhankhar seems to have resigned "under pressure by the Government".

"Perhaps the Government imposed this decision on him. This is not right for the country or democratic values of the country...I think for the first time in India's history, a Vice President has resigned all by himself. Whatever be the post, Government wants to run this country arbitrarily and that is before us," he said.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari said Dhankhar's resignation hints at internal conflicts in the BJP.

 "I believe that this is for the first time that a working Vice President has resigned from his post while the session is underway. This has revealed the internal conflicts of BJP. I think that this is a message to the country," he said.

Sharing a copy of the Vice President's resignation letter, Congress leader Pawan Khera wrote: "Selflessness is not without reason. There is something that is being veiled."

Meanwhile, TMC MP Kirti Azad wished Dhankhar speedy recovery, calling his tenure "highly controversial". "As far as his role as the Governor of Bengal is concerned, he was often at loggerheads with the state government. His tenure was highly controversial; he rarely allowed the Opposition a chance to speak," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said he was saddened by Dhankhar's resignatinon.   

"I have a very good relationship with him. I have known him for 30-40 years. We were paired with each other. We have appeared against each other in matters. We have a bonhomie between us that is quite unique. I always respected him, and he always respected me," he said, wishing him good health.

In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said he took the decision to step down to "prioritise health care and abide by medical advice". He had recently underwent angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

He also thanked President Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the council of ministers and all MPs for extending support to him during his tenure. Dhankhar said that he is thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights he has gained as Vice President in India's democracy.

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