The recent resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has stirred considerable speculation, with many linking it to a disagreement over an Opposition-backed notice concerning Justice Yashwant Varma. Dhankhar officially cited health reasons for his departure, but the timing of his resignation, immediately after accepting the notice, has fueled rumors of deeper political tensions.

The issue revolves around a notice for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court, who is under scrutiny following the discovery of a significant amount of cash at his residence. Opposition parties moved a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking Justice Varma's removal. Dhankhar, as Chairman of the Upper House, accepted the notice and instructed the Rajya Sabha Secretary General to take necessary steps. This move appears to have clashed with the government's strategy, which reportedly intended to manage the process differently.

Sources suggest that the government wanted to initiate action against Justice Varma, with the motion originating in the Lok Sabha and ideally presented as a bipartisan effort. The Opposition's move in the Rajya Sabha, and Dhankhar's acceptance of it, seemingly disrupted this plan. Some reports indicate that the government was caught off guard by Dhankhar's decision, leading to a divergence in approach. It's believed the government wanted to pass the motion in the Lok Sabha first, touting it as a success and sending a clear message to the judiciary.

The sequence of events has led to intense speculation about the reasons behind Dhankhar's resignation. While Union Minister Anupriya Patel attributed the resignation to health concerns, acknowledging that it was "shocking and surprising", others suggest that Dhankhar's acceptance of the Opposition's motion may have led to friction with the ruling party. Some sources even speculate that Dhankhar's resignation may have preempted a potential no-confidence motion against him.

Adding to the intrigue, key government figures, including BJP chief JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, were absent from a crucial meeting of the Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee (BAC) convened by Dhankhar. Opposition leaders have pointed to this absence as a sign of the government's displeasure with Dhankhar's actions.

In contrast, BJP MP Ravi Kishan accused the Opposition of hypocrisy. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that only Dhankhar himself knows the real reason for his resignation. Opposition leader Jairam Ramesh noted that Dhankhar "tried to accommodate the Opposition" and "was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol".

The episode has raised questions about the relationship between the Vice President and the government, and the extent to which the Opposition's move influenced Dhankhar's decision to step down. Regardless of the precise reasons, Dhankhar's sudden departure has injected a dose of uncertainty into the political landscape, with both sides offering differing explanations for his exit. The gazette notification of Dhankhar's resignation was issued by the Union Home Ministry on July 22, 2025.