The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Monday, resigned from his post for health reasons.
The 74-year-old Dhankhar had served as the vice president of India for nearly three years — since August 2022.
Tribune Online learnt that the office of the vice president is for a period of five years.
Dhankhar, in a resignation letter addressed to the country’s President Droupadi Murmu and posted on the X (formerly Twitter) page of the Vice President office, said the decision was in line with the advice from his doctors.
“To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the constitution,” Dhankhar said in the letter.
Continuing, Dhankhar thanked the President for her support and the working relationship they maintained during his time as the Vice President.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency – the Hon’ble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure,” the letter further reads.
The former Vice President also appreciated the cooperation of the country’s Prime Minister and the council of ministers, saying he had learned much while in office and believed that leaving office, he’s “filled with pride in Bharat’s global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future.”
“I express my deep gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister’s cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office.
“The warmth, trust, and affection I have received from all the Hon’ble Members of Parliament would ever be cherished and embedded in my memory.
“I am deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights I have gained as Vice President in our great democracy. It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India’s remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nation’s history has been a true honor,” Dhankhar’s letter further read.
Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reports that the country’s constitution does not specify who performs the duties of the Vice President of India when a vacancy occurs in the office before the expiry of term, or when the Vice President acts as the President of India.
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