• Source:JND
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A day after calling for greater harmony and mutual respect among political parties, Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down from the post of Vice-President of India, citing health concerns.

Dhankhar, 74, had been admitted to AIIMS Delhi in March after experiencing chest pain and discomfort. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he expressed his intent to “prioritise healthcare and abide by medical advice.”

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He assumed office as Vice-President in August 2022, having served previously as the Governor of West Bengal, a tenure marked by frequent clashes with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. A lawyer by training and known for his humble roots, Dhankhar was described as a kisan putra (farmer's son) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2022 Vice-Presidential nomination process. As the NDA candidate, he defeated opposition nominee Margaret Alva, becoming the second leader from Rajasthan, after Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to hold the high office.

First Vice-President To Face No-Confidence Motion

Dhankhar also made history as the first Vice-President of India to face a no-confidence motion. The INDIA bloc filed the motion, but due to procedural requirements—including a mandatory 14-day notice—it was unlikely to be taken up during the Winter Session of Parliament (November 25 – December 20, 2024).

Political Journey: From Reluctant Politician To Vice-President

Describing himself as a “reluctant politician,” Dhankhar entered politics in 1989, winning a Lok Sabha seat from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, on a Janata Dal ticket. A protégé of Devi Lal, he later became a Union Minister in 1990 under the Chandrashekhar government.

His political affiliations shifted over time. Dhankhar joined the Congress during PV Narasimha Rao's tenure, but with Ashok Gehlot’s rise in Rajasthan, he moved to the BJP and grew close to Vasundhara Raje. Between political stints, he returned to his legal profession, focusing on advocacy for more than a decade.

Distinguished Legal Career

Beginning his law practice in 1979, Dhankhar was designated a senior advocate by the Rajasthan High Court in 1990. He became one of the state's senior-most legal professionals before being appointed Governor of West Bengal in 2019. Throughout his career, he practiced in the Supreme Court and various high courts across India. He also served as President of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association.

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Early Life And Education Background

Born on May 18, 1951, in a farming family in a remote village in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Dhankhar studied at Sainik School in Chittorgarh, earned a degree in physics, and completed an LLB from the University of Rajasthan. He has been married to Sudesh Dhankhar since 1979, and the couple has a daughter.