New Delhi, India – July 24, 2025 – The Rajya Sabha’s Deputy Chairman, Harivansh, today rejected approximately 30 adjournment notices submitted by Opposition party members. These notices sought discussions on various pressing issues, including the highly contentious “unexpected resignation of Chairman Rajya Sabha” and former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP, Abdul Wahab, specifically called for a discussion under Rule 267 on the “unexpected resignation of Honourable Chairman Rajya Sabha.”
Multiple Opposition leaders have repeatedly raised serious questions regarding Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation on July 21, asserting that the former Vice President might have been coerced into stepping down due to alleged differences with government leaders. Dhankhar, who also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, cited “health reasons” for his resignation, with the Upper House being informed the very next day.
Earlier, several Congress MPs in the Rajya Sabha had also moved for an adjournment motion to discuss the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, an issue that has led to significant disruptions in Parliament this week.
On July 23, Congress chief and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, publicly expressed his skepticism over the resignation, suggesting that “there’s something not quite right with his decision.” Addressing mediapersons, Kharge reiterated his demand for the government to provide clear reasons behind Dhankhar’s resignation. “The government should answer why he resigned. I can see ‘dal mein kuch kaala hai’ [there is something fishy]. His health is fine. He used to defend RSS and BJP always. Who and what is behind his resignation should be known to the country,” Kharge asserted.
Congress MP and Deputy Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on Dhankhar’s resignation, alleging that the Prime Minister’s comments inadvertently highlighted the political nature of the departure. In a post on X, Gogoi wrote, “The dignity of a Constitutional post should be maintained both in its role of a Presiding Officer and in its resignation. PM Modi’s tweet has revealed the political nature of the resignation.”
Adding to the chorus of allegations, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed that the former Vice President was “forced” to resign from his post by “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Cabinet ministers.” Banerjee went further, alleging that Dhankhar was “threatened” with impeachment if he did not resign before 9 PM on that particular day. “This is a pressure tactic by the PM and other Cabinet ministers. Earlier, one Election Commissioner resigned just before the elections… It is being heard that now Rajnath Singh will be made vice president,” Banerjee stated.
In the wake of the vacancy, the Election Commission has confirmed that preparations for the election of the Vice President’s post have already begun.
The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college comprising members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Voting in such elections is conducted by secret ballot. The Electoral College includes all elected and nominated members of both Houses.
According to constitutional provisions, an election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiry of a Vice President’s term is completed before the term concludes. However, in cases where a vacancy arises due to death, resignation, removal, or other reasons, the election to fill that vacancy is held “as soon as possible” after the occurrence. The person so elected is entitled to hold office for a full term of five years from the date they assume office, regardless of the unexpired term of their predecessor. Until a new Vice President is elected, the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, currently Harivansh Narayan Singh, presides over the Upper House’s proceedings.