Why Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigned: A Look At The Former Vice President’s Political Rise

Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post of Vice President of India on Monday, citing health concerns and the need to follow medical advice. His resignation came just hours after he presided over the first day of the Rajya Sabha's Monsoon Session.

In his resignation letter, Dhankhar conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Union Cabinet. He described his time in office as a moment of pride, having contributed to India's rise as a global and economic power. He called serving in this transformative phase of India's history a "true honour."

Who is Jagdeep Dhankhar?

Jagdeep Dhankhar was born on May 18, 1951, in Kithana village, located in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district. His rise in Indian public life has been both long and distinguished, starting from legal practice at the Rajasthan Bar to holding the constitutional office of Vice President.

He is married to Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar and has a daughter named Kamna.

Academically, he earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics from Maharaja's College, Jaipur, and completed his LLB from the University of Rajasthan in 1978-79. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Rajasthan on November 10, 1979. On March 27, 1990, he was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Rajasthan High Court. His legal practice primarily focused on the Supreme Court, dealing with sectors such as Steel, Coal, Mining, and International Commercial Arbitration.

Dhankhar appeared in multiple High Courts across India and was the senior-most designated Senior Advocate in Rajasthan until his appointment as Governor of West Bengal in July 2019. He held the post until July 2022.

In politics, Dhankhar was first elected to the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 from Jhunjhunu. He later served as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar government from 1990 to 1991. He was also elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from the Kishangarh constituency in Ajmer district in 1993.

Over the years, he served on various key parliamentary and assembly committees. As a Union Minister, he was part of a delegation that visited the European Parliament, where he served as Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Group.

Apart from law and politics, Dhankhar has been closely associated with sports. He has served as President of the Rajasthan Olympic Association and the Rajasthan Tennis Association.

He is a life member of the Indian Law Institute and also affiliated with the Indian Council of Arbitration, the ICC Commission of Arbitration, and the ICC Court of Arbitration.

Jagdeep Dhankhar has also held prestigious academic roles, serving as the ex-officio Chancellor of both Delhi University and Panjab University.