The sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has triggered sharp political reactions, with the principal Opposition Congress urging him to reconsider his decision.
Terming the resignation “as shocking as it is unimaginable”, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday said there appeared to be more to Dhankhar’s move than what meets the eye.
“The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is unimaginable. Until around 5 PM this evening, I was with him, along with several other MPs. And at 7:30 PM, I had a phone conversation with him. Undoubtedly, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar should prioritize his health above all else. However, it is also clear that there is more to his completely unexpected resignation than meets the eye,” Ramesh wrote on X.
The Congress leader further noted that Dhankhar, during his tenure, took both the government and the Opposition to task equally, and was about to make some importantly announcements related to the judiciary.
“Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has taken both the government and the Opposition to task equally. He had called a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee yesterday at 1 PM and was about to make some important announcements related to the judiciary,” Ramesh said.
However, he added that this was not the time for speculation and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to persuade Dhankhar to change his mind.
“We wish him good health and urge him to reconsider his decision. We also expect the Prime Minister to persuade Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar to change his mind. This would be in the interest of the nation and would come as a great relief, especially for the farming community,” he added.
Meanwhile, Purnea MP Pappu Yadav, a staunch supporter of Rahul Gandhi, squarely blamed the BJP for pushing Dhankhar to the edge, claiming that his impartial conduct did not sit well with many in power.
Yadav also alleged that Union Minister JP Nadda’s purported remark during Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s speech in the Rajya Sabha — “Nothing will go on record, only what I say will go on record” — had deeply hurt the Vice President.
“That insult to the Chair hurt him deeply. This has nothing to do with his health,” Yadav said.