• Source:JND
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Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday resigned as the Vice President of India with immediate effect due to health issues. He tendered his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu.

In his resignation letter, Dhankhar said, "To prioritise health 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."

Dhankhar was announced as the NDA candidate for the Vice President on July 16, 2022. On August 6, the voting was held, and he defeated his rival opposition candidate Margaret Alva by the highest poll margin since the 1992 election.

He polled 528 out of 710 valid votes and assumed the office on August 11, 2022. He is the first-ever Vice Rajya Sabha Chairperson to have faced no-conifidence motion, which was brought by the opposition on the allegatuions of partisanship on December 10, 2024.

What happens when VP resigns?

VP Dhankhar's resignation will come into effect after President Murmu accepts it. According to the Indian Constitution. The Constitution does not mention the second in line to take charge as the Vice President in case of resignation, except Article 68 (2), which mandates an election for the second top executive post of the country as soon as possible in such a case.

Article 68(2) says, "An election to fill a vacancy in the office of Vice-President occurring because of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy, and the person elected to fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of article 67, be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office."

However, the Vice President also acts as an ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. And for that, the Constitution provisions the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, or any other member of the Rajya Sabha authorised by the President of India to fulfill the responsibilities until the new Vice President gets elected.