New Delhi, July 23, 2025 — As speculation continues to mount around the abrupt resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Health Minister and BJP president J. P. Nadda on Tuesday clarified that the Vice President’s office had been duly informed in advance that he and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju would not be attending the scheduled Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held on Monday evening. The clarification comes amidst intensifying political questions from the Congress party, which has hinted that Dhankhar’s resignation may not have stemmed solely from medical reasons.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament after a high-level meeting convened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Nadda dismissed suggestions of miscommunication or disrespect toward the Vice President. “The Vice President’s office was intimated about our inability to attend the meeting,” he said, responding directly to Congress’ allegations that Dhankhar was snubbed by senior government leaders ahead of his exit. Along with Nadda, the defence ministry meeting also saw the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Kiren Rijiju, whose absence at the BAC has also drawn scrutiny.
The political storm was first ignited by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who on Monday evening expressed shock over Dhankhar’s sudden decision to step down, calling it “inexplicable.” While Dhankhar cited health reasons in his resignation submitted to President Droupadi Murmu, Ramesh suggested there could be deeper issues involved. He noted that Dhankhar had scheduled a BAC meeting and was preparing to announce judicial reforms or observations, which further amplifies the surprise surrounding his abrupt move. Ramesh also claimed to have spoken with Dhankhar just hours before the resignation and found no indication of such a development.
“There’s clearly more to this than meets the eye,” Ramesh reiterated on Tuesday, pressing the Prime Minister to persuade Dhankhar to reconsider his decision. The Congress has framed the resignation not just as a personal medical issue but potentially a sign of internal dissent or growing discomfort within the BJP’s upper echelons. They allege that Dhankhar may have felt sidelined, particularly as he has recently taken assertive stands in the Rajya Sabha—often calling out both the opposition and ruling party MPs for decorum and balance.
For now, the BJP appears keen on quelling any perception of internal disharmony. Nadda’s statement, while brief, was calculated to push back against Congress’ narrative of exclusion or disrespect. However, the absence of both the Leader of the House (a role currently held by Nadda) and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister from a BAC meeting chaired by the Vice President and scheduled just hours before his resignation raises questions that remain unanswered in public discourse.
The Vice President, who also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, is integral to the legislative functioning of the Upper House. His departure during a session where key bills are expected to be debated has created a sudden vacuum. The timing is particularly sensitive, as the monsoon session is under way and the government is seeking to push through a number of critical legislative items.
Jagdeep Dhankhar’s role as Vice President has often attracted attention for his firm approach to managing disruptions in the Rajya Sabha. A former Governor of West Bengal and a senior legal mind, he was widely seen as a disciplined constitutionalist who attempted to assert the dignity of Parliament through procedural interventions. His ability to strike balance between government and opposition made him a figure of rare credibility in the current climate of polarization. His exit, therefore, is not only procedurally significant but politically symbolic.
As no official successor has yet been named, the government will be under pressure to ensure a smooth transition. Meanwhile, opposition voices continue to demand greater transparency about the events leading up to Dhankhar’s resignation. The incident has opened yet another front in the ongoing tensions between the BJP-led Centre and the opposition, with both sides interpreting the exit through sharply contrasting political lenses.
In the days ahead, how the BJP leadership addresses the fallout—and whether Dhankhar himself chooses to publicly elaborate on his decision—will determine whether this controversy deepens or diffuses.
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