Dhankhar’s Resignation: Congress Leader Points to Government Loss of Confidence
A swift and unceremonious exit by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar signals a breakdown in trust between his office and the Modi government, according to a leading Congress figure. Speaking exclusively to India Today TV’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai on Tuesday, the Congress leader asserted that Dhankhar’s resignation stemmed from “overstepping his limit and confronting the government” by allowing a motion against Justice Yashwant Varma to proceed.
A Confrontational Stance and Eroding Trust
The Congress leader believes this action ultimately led to a fractured relationship. “Once the government lost confidence in Mr Dhankhar, he had to go,” the source stated. This assessment is supported, they argue, by the Rajya Sabha’s notably brief announcement of the resignation. The lack of a formal farewell, the Congress leader emphasized, is indicative of a complete loss of favor.
“The Deputy Chairman made a brief and formal announcement in the Rajya Sabha about a vacancy in the post of Vice President, saying a schedule would be announced later,” the source explained. “This means the government has bid goodbye to Mr Dhankar without fuss or fanfare or a farewell, which means the trust, the link between the two has completely broken down.”
Judicial Tensions and Political Alignment
The situation is further complicated by growing tensions between the judiciary and the executive branches. The Congress leader pointed to Dhankhar’s history of taking a “confrontational position on judicial issues” for over a year as a contributing factor.
The former Vice President, who assumed office in August 2022 with a term extending to 2027, appears to have fallen out of alignment with the government’s expectations. The Congress leader suggested the Modi government operates on a principle of conditional support. “They will befriend anyone as long as that person toes their line. But once he steps out of line, they will withdraw their support,” they said. “I am not saying that is exactly what happened in Mr Dhankhar’s case. But something must have happened.”
Questions Remain Over Business Advisory Committee Meeting
Adding another layer to the unfolding events, the Congress leader highlighted a peculiar incident during a Business Advisory Committee meeting on July 22, 2025. While BJP leaders J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju attended the initial session at 12:30 pm, they notably skipped the reconvened meeting later that afternoon, a move perceived by some as a boycott.
“What happened between 12:30 and 4:30?” the Congress leader questioned, suggesting a significant, yet undisclosed, event occurred during that timeframe. Dhankhar reportedly appeared visibly upset by the leaders’ absence and subsequently concluded the meeting.
Opposition’s Position Unchanged
Despite the recent developments, the Congress leader clarified that the opposition’s stance on Dhankhar has not shifted. “The opposition had lost confidence in Dhankhar months ago and had not asked him to stay,” they stated, indicating a pre-existing lack of trust that predates the recent resignation.
The abrupt departure of Jagdeep Dhankhar raises critical questions about the balance of power within the Indian government and the implications for the relationship between the executive and judicial branches.
Published By: Shipra Parashar
Published On: Jul 22, 2025
