Jagdeep Dhankhar Makes First Public Appearance After Vice Presidential Resignation

Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar made his first public appearance since his abrupt resignation last month, attending the swearing-in ceremony of his successor, C. P. Radhakrishnan, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 12, 2025. Seated alongside his wife, Sudesh Dhankhar, he was joined by other former vice presidents Hamid Ansari and Venkaiah Naidu, as well as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to the 67-year-old Radhakrishnan during the brief event, marking a smooth transition in the constitutional role.

Dhankhar resigned on July 21, 2025, more than two years before his term's scheduled end on August 10, 2027. Officially attributed to medical reasons, sources suggest underlying tensions, including a potential erosion of trust with the central government. His tenure, which began in 2022, initially saw him aligning closely with the administration on issues like judicial doctrines, population control, and religious conversions, but it evolved amid growing friction.

A key flashpoint was Dhankhar's handling of an Opposition-backed impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma, which clashed with the government's preference to prioritise proceedings against Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court. Sources indicate multiple ministerial interventions failed to sway him. Additionally, Dhankhar sought enhanced privileges akin to those of the President, including control over staff and travel arrangements, straining relations further.

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The December 2024 no-confidence motion against him as Rajya Sabha Chairman—the first of its kind—marked a turning point, leading to increased engagements with Opposition figures and legal communities. His insistence on protocol, such as one-on-one meetings with visiting US Vice President JD Vance, reportedly exacerbated establishment frustrations. Observers note this shift from a perceived political ally to a more independent stance highlighted the challenges of balancing constitutional neutrality with political realities.

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