National New: India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar unexpectedly resigned from his post on Monday, ending his controversy-ridden three-year tenure. He informed President Draupadi Murmu of his resignation by sending a letter, which was shared on social media at 9:25 pm. Dhankhar's resignation is being linked to the political developments of the time when he accepted an opposition-backed motion in the Rajya Sabha.
While a similar motion, which the BJP had presented against Justice Yashwant Verma in the Lok Sabha, was still pending. It is being said that he took this decision without giving prior information to the BJP, which increased discontent within the party.
Raghav Chadha Row Sparks Clash
Dhankhar's tenure was often surrounded by controversies, especially regarding the cases related to AAP MP Raghav Chadha. The government did not like the decision to end Chadha's 114-day suspension from the Rajya Sabha in December 2023. Dhankhar took this decision when the Privileges Committee found him guilty. Apart from this, he was the one who sent the matter of adding names without permission to the Select Committee on the Delhi Services Bill.
Controversy over bungalow
There was also a dispute over the bungalow allotted to Chadha. He was given a bungalow of a higher level than his seniority, which was later cancelled. When he was asked to vacate the bungalow, he appealed to the court and got a stay order, which stopped the action of the secretariat. This matter is still pending in the court.
Confrontation with the opposition
Dhankhar's confrontation with the opposition has been well known. He was accused of giving more opportunities to the BJP to speak and suppressing the opposition. However, a change in his working style has been seen in recent months, where opposition leaders have been allowed to speak more. For example, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was allowed to launch a scathing attack on the BJP over 'Operation Sindoor,' which the government disliked.
Farmers’ Issues Trigger Rift
Dhankhar raised his voice in favor of farmers on issues related to agricultural laws and MSP. He publicly questioned the Agriculture Minister and demanded that farmers get direct subsidies on fertilizers and inflation-adjusted assistance like MPs.
Sharp stance on judiciary
Recently, Dhankhar openly criticized the judiciary, especially in cases related to Justice Verma. He demanded a criminal investigation into the cash seizure cases pending in the courts and also warned the Supreme Court in Shakespearean style to "beware of the month of March."
