The political sphere was taken by surprise when Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar abruptly resigned from his position, citing health concerns. The announcement came on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, adding to the shock.

According to sources, President Droupadi Murmu had an "unscheduled" meeting with Dhankhar at Rashtrapati Bhavan just hours before he resigned. The details of their conversation remain undisclosed, as neither the President's nor the Vice President's office has released an official statement.

The resignation letter, addressed to President Murmu, stated that Dhankhar was stepping down to "prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution". Dhankhar, who is 74 years old, had been hospitalised earlier in the year due to uneasiness and underwent a medical procedure.

The Vice President's office had earlier announced a one-day official visit to Jaipur on July 23. Additionally, Dhankhar had previously mentioned, in a lighter tone, that he would retire in August 2027, "subject to divine intervention". His tenure was originally set to end on August 10, 2027.

The sudden resignation has sparked speculation and discussions across the political spectrum. Congress leaders expressed surprise, noting that Dhankhar had actively participated in the House proceedings throughout the day and had even scheduled a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting for the following day. Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, mentioned that Dhankhar was also expected to make significant announcements related to the judiciary.

Concerns about Dhankhar's health had surfaced recently. Sources revealed that he had collapsed during an official event in Delhi on July 17 while visiting a garden with his wife and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena. He had to be assisted out of the area after his health deteriorated suddenly. It was also known that Dhankhar had recently undergone angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

Despite the official explanation of health reasons, the Congress party suggested that there might be "far deeper" reasons behind Dhankhar's resignation. They pointed to his alleged disappointment over the absence of JP Nadda, the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju at a BAC meeting. The Congress also alluded to an incident where Nadda reportedly instructed the Chair that only his remarks, and not those of the Opposition, should be recorded. However, Nadda refuted these allegations, stating that he and Rijiju had missed the BAC meeting due to important parliamentary work and that his remarks in the House were directed at the Opposition, not the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

Dhankhar's resignation marks the end of a relatively short tenure as Vice President, having assumed office in August 2022. During his time in office, he presided over the Rajya Sabha and administered oaths to newly elected and nominated members. He also addressed an opposition-sponsored notice for a motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma.