Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Sudden Resignation: What Happened Between 1 and 4:30 PM? Congress Points to ‘Deeper Reasons’

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar ’s unexpected resignation has stirred up a political storm, with speculation growing over what exactly happened in the hours leading up to his departure. While the official reason cited was health-related, the Congress claims there’s more beneath the surface.




A Sudden Exit, A String of Questions
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh took to social media to suggest that something "very serious" unfolded between 1 PM and 4:30 PM on Monday - the critical timeframe that, according to him, may have led to Dhankhar’s decision.


Earlier that day, Dhankhar had chaired a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting at 12:30 PM, attended by key leaders including JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju . It was mutually decided to reconvene at 4:30 PM. However, when the committee met again later in the day, both Nadda and Rijiju were missing, and Dhankhar was reportedly not informed about their absence.

“At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 PM,” – Jairam Ramesh




The Final Address and Unsettling Developments
Before resigning, Dhankhar addressed the Rajya Sabha, acknowledging a motion for the removal of a high court judge and raising concern over a shocking incident - a bundle of ₹500 notes found unclaimed on a seat in the House, which he described as "deeply concerning".

This address, which came just hours before his resignation, is now being viewed as a potential turning point in the sequence of events.

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Congress Speaks, BJP Reacts
Describing Dhankhar’s resignation as “unprecedented,” Jairam Ramesh praised him for upholding parliamentary values and being a “stickler for propriety,” while hinting that the resignation could reflect dissatisfaction with the conduct of others in power.

“Shri Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance.”

Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey dismissed the Opposition’s narrative, likening it to a melodramatic film plot. Referring to a Reuters report from December, Dubey reminded that opposition parties had moved to impeach Dhankhar, accusing him of bias as Rajya Sabha Chairman.



“They had just moved a proposal to remove him. At the very least, have some concern for the man’s health.” – Nishikant Dubey


Political Reactions Pour In
Among those expressing personal sorrow was senior advocate and MP Kapil Sibal, who reminisced about his long association with Dhankhar, calling the news heartbreaking.

Though the official explanation remains health-related, Dhankhar’s sudden exit - especially following controversial developments in the House - has left the political landscape buzzing with speculation and unanswered questions.