Monsoon Session Day 2: Mystery over Dhankhar's resignation continues

Day 2 of the Monsoon Session on Tuesday (July 22) was all about Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden decision to quit and frenzied reactions from almost all parties, except the ruling BJP. It is not yet clear what led to the decision, although multiple theories are circulating.

Catch our video story; Dhankhar's exit, first 'blood on carpet' moment for Modi regime? Capital Beat

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day as Opposition members continued their protests. The demonstrations focused on three key issues: the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, the recent Pahalgam terror attack, and Jagdeep Dhankhar's shock decision to quit. Both houses are scheduled to reconvene tomorrow, at 11 am.

BJP happy to see Dhankhar go?

The usual effusive praise that is showered on an occupant of a high office on his departure was missing from the ruling alliance's side, an indication that the government was probably happy to see him go. It was the Opposition, which had signed a notice to impeach him last year for his alleged biases, that had nice words for him.

Senior government ministers swung into action by getting many Rajya Sabha MPs of the BJP and its allies to put their signatures on a document which some members said was for a similar notice to ensure that opposition members alone were not behind the exercise in the Upper House.

Many other signatories kept mum, while a few stated that they were not aware of the details as they signed a paper that did not carry details of the matter, drawing the conjecture that it was related to Dhankhar. A couple of senior leaders, however, insisted that it was all aimed at ensuring that National Democratic Alliance MPs were also part of the notice for Varma's removal.

Taking on judiciary?

Some observers noted that Dhankhar, who wore the hat of a senior lawyer before becoming West Bengal governor in 2019, had taken lead in taking on the judiciary over a host of issues, the latest one involving Varma, and might have felt left out when it appeared that the motion to remove the high court judge was to be piloted in the Lok Sabha.

Another development that suggested the government's unhappiness with Dhankhar was the absence of the Leader of House in Rajya Sabha, J P Nadda, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju from the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, which includes members of different parties and decides on the House agenda, at 4.30 pm on Monday.

The meeting, which was chaired by Dhankhar, was held as an earlier meeting, which Nadda and Rijiju had attended, could not arrive at a decision on the House's final agenda.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh speculated in a post on X that something serious clearly occurred between 1 pm and 4.30 pm, which prompted Nadda and Rijiju to skip the BAC "deliberately". This naturally did not go well with Dhankhar, he claimed.

Nadda told reporters that both of them were busy with official work and had informed the Rajya Sabha Chairman's office about it.

A few BJP members were also critical of Dhankhar's decision to allow the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, to launch a sharp attack on the government over Operation Sindoor during the Zero Hour when the ruling alliance had already expressed its willingness for a discussion on the issue.

Barring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who put out a brief post, most of the leading government figures refrained from offering any comment.

Modi said on X, "Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health." Opposition MP Kapil Sibal, long a bitter critic of Dhankhar, lauded him as a nationalist and patriot.

He wanted the opposition and the government to work together to enhance India's standing in the world, the senior lawyer said.

Many leaders are of the view that the ties between Dhankhar and the government might have got strained over a period of time, but there is little clarity on the reasons for these differences

Also read

Mystery of why Dhankhar resigned, and who will replace him as Vice President

Operation Sindoor debate: Has Modi outsmarted Opposition on Day 1?

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