Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned from his post, creating a sudden vacancy in India’s second-highest constitutional office. In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he said he was stepping down to focus on his health. The resignation took effect immediately.
Dhankhar’s decision has surprised many in the political circle. He was also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a role now left vacant. According to the Constitution, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, currently Harivansh Narayan Singh, will temporarily take over House duties until a new Vice President is elected.
Unlike regular term completions, the Constitution does not give a fixed deadline for filling the Vice President’s post when it becomes vacant mid-term. However, the Election Commission is expected to hold polls soon, under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. Members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will vote using a secret ballot, ranking candidates in order of preference. The person with the most first-choice votes will be elected. Once elected, the new Vice President will serve a full five-year term.
To qualify for the role, a candidate must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, eligible to become a Rajya Sabha member, and must not hold any office of profit.
Dhankhar became Vice President in August 2022 after winning with over 74% of the votes — one of the highest margins in history. Before that, he served as Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. His term was expected to end in 2027, but his sudden resignation has now opened the door for a fresh election.
