**Political Turmoil Following Vice President Dhankhar’s Resignation**
A political controversy has emerged after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar unexpectedly resigned, prompting the Opposition to connect his departure to the absence of key ministers during a significant Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. The Congress party has suggested that Dhankhar was displeased with the lack of attendance from Union Minister JP Nadda, the Leader of the House, and Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, at the meeting held just hours before his resignation. In response, Nadda stated that both ministers were engaged in important parliamentary duties and had informed the Chairman in advance.
The BAC of the Rajya Sabha is crucial for recommending the allocation of time for government legislative and other business. The first meeting took place at 12:30 PM and was attended by most members, including Nadda and Rijiju. After some discussions, the BAC decided to reconvene at 4:30 PM. However, when the meeting resumed, both ministers were absent, leading Union Minister L Murugan to represent the government. Murugan requested Dhankhar to postpone the meeting until the following day. Sources indicate that the committee met twice on Monday, but both sessions ended without resolution.
Nadda clarified their absence, stating, “Kiren Rijiju and I did not attend the meeting called by the Vice President at 4:30 PM because we were occupied with other important parliamentary work, and prior intimation was given to the office of the Honourable Vice President.” The Congress party also pointed to a remark made by Nadda in the Rajya Sabha, where he stated, “Nothing will go on record, only what I say will go on record,” which they deemed an insult to the Vice President. Nadda defended his statement, asserting it was directed at interrupting Opposition MPs, not at the Chair.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who participated in the BAC, claimed that Vice President Dhankhar was not personally informed about the ministers’ absence and that the committee had waited for their arrival. “It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 PM,” Ramesh stated. He suggested that something significant occurred between 1 PM and 4:30 PM that justified the ministers’ deliberate absence from the second BAC meeting.
In a surprising turn of events late Monday evening, coinciding with the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar announced his resignation, citing medical reasons. This unexpected decision has left political leaders across the spectrum in disbelief.
**FAQ**
**What led to Vice President Dhankhar’s resignation?**
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned unexpectedly, citing medical reasons, amidst a political controversy involving the absence of key ministers at a crucial meeting.
