KOLKATA, West Bengal – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised doubts regarding the abrupt resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, stating on Tuesday that she would not comment directly on his decision but believed the former Vice President to be “absolutely fine.” Speaking at a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, the Trinamool Congress leader hinted that there might be more to the resignation than what is immediately apparent.
“Political parties cannot decide why Mr Dhankhar resigned. I have no comments on the issue,” the Bengal chief minister said. She then added, pointedly, “Let us watch. He is a healthy man. I think his health is absolutely fine.”
Before becoming Vice President, Dhankhar served as the Governor of West Bengal, a period marked by significant friction and frequent public confrontations with Banerjee and the TMC government. Their relationship was notoriously strained, characterized by exchanges of letters and accusations. Banerjee had repeatedly accused Dhankhar of overstepping constitutional boundaries during his tenure as governor, highlighting a history of political tussles between the two.
Opposition Questions Abrupt Resignation
Mamata Banerjee is not alone in questioning the suddenness of Dhankhar’s departure. Several other opposition members have also voiced their concerns, suggesting that “health reasons” might not be the sole factor behind the decision.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has been one of the most vocal critics, taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media post for Dhankhar. Ramesh questioned the underlying reasons for the Vice President’s resignation and alleged that it was “forced” by the government.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also weighed in, questioning the abruptness of the resignation but wishing the former VP “well” if healthcare was indeed the only reason. “Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation. Is health the only reason? If so, get well soon. Otherwise, curiosity remains,” Ghosh posted on X.
TMC MP and senior leader Sushmita Dev similarly expressed her surprise at Dhankhar’s sudden move. “I saw some news indicating that he was not feeling well.” However, I did not expect that his health issues were serious enough for him to resign. I thought he would go on leave, recover and come back, so I was quite surprised by his decision,” she told a news channel.
Jagdeep Dhankhar became the third vice president in India’s history to resign mid-term. On Monday evening, Dhankhar invoked Article 67 (a) of the Constitution and submitted his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, stating his decision was made in order to “prioritize health care.” The sudden vacancy has sparked political speculation and initiated the process of electing a new vice president.