‘Mocking VP’s Health’: BJP Retorts As Congress Says Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Exit Was Planned

Last Updated:July 22, 2025, 12:56 is

Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation has sparked a political row, with the Congress suggesting it was pre-planned, and the BJP accusing them of mocking personal health crisis.

Politics over the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Vice President has deepened, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) extending him wishes for his good health, and the Congress alleging that the move could be “pre-planned”.

Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday Evening resigned from his post citing medical reasons, triggering speculations in political circles.

In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar mentioned that he was stepping down with immediate effect to “prioritise health care”.

Slamming the Opposition over its allegations of politics behind the move, BJP MP Ravi Kishan on Tuesday accused the Congress of making fun of Dhankhar’s health.

“The Opposition is making fun of someone’s health condition and doing politics on it. The level of politics is falling,” Ravi Kishan told reporters outside the Parliament, amid the Monsoon Session.

“He (Dhankhar) is ill, his health is not allowing, some report would have come in the evening, he would have been advised rest, he is taking rest, they are doing politics,” the BJP MP said.

“There is no guarantee of life; health can deteriorate anytime, the body is also like a machine,” he added.

Ravi Kishan’s reaction came after Congress leader Sukhdeo Bhagat on Tuesday suggested that Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation might have been preplanned, citing the “disappearance” of Union Minister JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held earlier on Monday.

While praying for Dhankhar’s good health, the Congress MP also mentioned that Dhankhar’s resignation was “sudden” and “unexpected,” saying that if he stepped down due to health reasons, then he could have done it before the commencement of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session.

“We pray to God for his good health and long life. Everything appears normal in politics, but this is not the case. If it was on health grounds, I think he could have done it even before the session,” Bhagat told reporters.

“Yesterday, he suddenly resigned; it was unexpected. The BJP has forgotten their government traditions. Union Minister JP Nadda said ‘Whatever I say will go on record’, so will you dictate to the Vice President? Secondly, there was a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee yesterday,” he added.

Speaking on the absence of Nadda and Rijiju from the BAC meeting, the Congress leader said, “The Parliamentary Affairs Minister disappears. JP Nadda disappears. That’s why I said the script was written earlier, and that was seen yesterday.”

Echoing the Congress, Communist Party of India leader Sandosh Kumar said that only the BJP can explain the unexpected resignation of Dhankhar.

Kumar said that Dhankhar seemed enthusiastic in running the House, and was going to be part of several meetings too.

“I don’t think it is because of his ill health, and only the BJP can explain what happened last night. The Chairman was very enthusiastic about running the House; there were several meetings announced, and then, quite unexpectedly, this happened,” he said.

“We don’t know much about this, like all NDA regime decisions, like notebandi (demonetisation), the Goods and Services Tax (GST) were announced at midnight only. So this too, only the BJP can explain,” Kumar said.

ALSO READ | ‘Wishing Him Good Health’: PM Modi After Jagdeep Dhankhar Steps Down As Vice President

And a sarothra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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