In a political twist worthy of a thriller, sources say the government was considering backing an opposition move to impeach its own Vice President. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is believed to have quietly begun gathering signatures from BJP MPs, after Dhankhar’s defiance upset the party’s internal hierarchy and narrative control.
By PC Bureau
New Delhi | July 22, 2025
Jagdeep Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation as Vice President of India has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political landscape, with speculation and conspiracy theories gaining momentum in the absence of a clear explanation. The 74-year-old former Vice President, who chaired the opening day of the Monsoon Session in the Rajya Sabha just hours before tendering his resignation, cited “health reasons” for his decision. But many observers — both within political circles and outside — are not convinced.
While the official statement maintained a sterile tone, political murmurs suggest that Dhankhar’s departure may not have been entirely voluntary. “There’s more to this than meets the eye,” said a senior opposition MP, requesting anonymity. “No one walks away from the second-highest constitutional post without a storm brewing behind the curtains.”
Dhankhar, who once enjoyed the complete backing of the ruling party, has in recent months taken an uncharacteristically independent line on several issues. Sources close to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reveal growing unease within the government over some of his recent decisions and remarks — especially his perceived deviation from the government script on key legislative a nd institutional matters.
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One notable episode occurred in April when Dhankhar reportedly refused to expedite a contentious bill that the government wanted passed urgently. Though the matter was officially downplayed, insiders say it marked a turning point in his relationship with the executive.
The Yashwant Verma Flashpoint
The tipping point, according to highly placed political sources, was Dhankhar’s decision to accept an opposition-sponsored motion for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Verma of the Delhi High Court. The motion, backed by a broad opposition front citing alleged impropriety and judicial overreach, was reportedly admitted by Dhankhar despite quiet pressure from the government to block it on procedural grounds.
#WATCH | Delhi: On the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, “We heard inside the corridors of Parliament that the BJP MPs were signing an impeachment motion yesterday, even ministers were signing it. Whose impeachment were they doing?… pic.twitter.com/lfxTYyOc5E
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025
His move was seen by the ruling dispensation as a direct challenge to its authority and a derailment of its narrative on judicial accountability. “It took the wind out of the government’s sail just when it was gearing up to launch its own offensive against corruption in the judiciary,” a senior BJP functionary confessed privately.
In an ironic twist, government sources now claim that the BJP was contemplating retaliatory action — even to the extent of supporting an impeachment motion against Dhankhar himself. It is rumoured that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had begun the process of collecting signatures from BJP MPs to back such a motion, in a stunning reversal that could have seen the ruling party align with opposition forces to oust its own Vice President.
Whispers of a Political Purge?
In the wake of these events, opposition leaders and neutral observers have questioned the nature of Dhankhar’s resignation. “Was he forced to jump before he was pushed?” asked CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury. “This reeks of backroom politics and authoritarian pressure.”
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also weighed in: “If this is how the government treats its own constitutional appointees when they show spine, what message does it send to the rest of the institutional framework?”
Modi’s Measured Farewell
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged Dhankhar’s service in a brief social media post but avoided any effusive praise or mention of legacy — a departure from his usual warm send-offs. “Wishing Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji good health,” the Prime Minister posted on X (formerly Twitter), without elaborating.
The chilly tone did not go unnoticed. “There was no farewell, no emotion, no dignity offered. That silence is louder than any speech,” observed a senior political editor.
Unverified reports on some fringe platforms have suggested that Dhankhar may have been served with confidential legal advisories concerning a conflict of interest involving a family member. No corroborating evidence has surfaced, but the speculation has only added to the air of mystery.
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Social media continues to buzz with hashtags like #WhyDhankharQuit, #VPResigns, and #ImpeachTheImpeacher, with commentators framing the entire episode as a constitutional crisis unfolding in slow motion.
No successor has been named yet, but speculation is rife that a staunchly loyal figure will be elevated to the role — possibly someone with closer ideological alignment to the party’s core leadership.
As for Dhankhar, he remains silent — refusing interviews, skipping public appearances, and letting speculation do the talking. And in a political culture where silence often masks scandal, Dhankhar’s silence is being interpreted not as dignity, but defiance.
