Vice-President Dhankhar submits his resignation 

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, resigned from his post citing health reasons.

“To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,” the resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, which was posted on the Vice-President’s official X account, said. He had called on President Murmu in the evening.

Mr. Dhankhar had suffered a cardiac event in March but was said to have recovered and had been participating in his engagements since. The rest of the letter expressed his “deep gratitude” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers as well as the “warmth, trust and affection” that he had received from MPs.

The move has come as a surprise to many leaders, as Mr. Dhankhar had presided over Rajya Sabha proceedings on the first half of the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday, which included an important intervention in the Opposition-sponsored motion for removal of High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. He didn’t return for the post-lunch Session but spoke to MPs and floor leaders till evening.