Unexpected Exit: Understanding the Constitutional Crisis Post Dhankhar’s Resignation

 Unexpected Exit: Understanding the Constitutional Crisis Post Dhankhar’s Resignation

🖊️ By Suryavanshi IAS | For UPSC Aspirants who analyse, not just memorise

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🧭 The Resignation That Shook Parliament

On July 22, 2025, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation — a move that caught the nation, Parliament, and polity off-guard. While speculation brews over the reasons, the resignation has constitutional, political, and procedural implications that every UPSC aspirant must unpack.

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📜 The Constitutional Angle

The office of the Vice-President of India is not just ceremonial. As the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the V-P plays a pivotal role in steering legislative business in the Upper House.

• Article 67(b) of the Constitution allows the Vice-President to resign by writing addressed to the President.

• Upon resignation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is mandated to conduct elections to fill the vacancy “as soon as possible”.

• The Electoral College comprises both elected and nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
  Importantly, there’s no party whip, making it a free vote.

🧠 UPSC Insight: This scenario tests constitutional resilience. Questions on the separation of powers, parliamentary procedure, and vacancy handling mechanisms could now surface in Mains GS-II or in Prelims under “Polity & Constitution.”

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🔍 The Political Undercurrents

While official communication remains brief, the Congress party alleges deeper issues. Jairam Ramesh pointed to an alleged breach of protocol:

“The Vice-President wasn’t informed about the absence of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Kiren Rijiju in a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on July 21. In protest, he rescheduled the BAC to July 22.”

The question remains:
🛑 Was this a procedural lapse or a symptom of systemic friction?

Minister Nadda, however, denied the charge, stating that the V-P’s office was duly informed.

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⚖️ Between Convention and Crisis

In constitutional functioning, decorum and trust between the Chair and the Executive are vital. A Vice-President rescheduling a BAC meeting signals more than just miscommunication — it hints at a breakdown in coordination.

👨‍🏫 UPSC Angle: This case illustrates real-time challenges in federalism, institutional functioning, and legislative leadership. Aspirants should be ready to discuss:

• Constitutional morality vs political expediency

• Functioning of parliamentary committees

• Role of Vice-President beyond the Constitution's text

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🗳️ What Next? The Road Ahead

The ECI is now constitutionally bound to announce fresh elections. Given the non-applicability of the anti-defection law, the results could swing unpredictably — a rare occurrence in Indian politics.

• The new Vice-President must be elected before the monsoon session resumes at full scale, ensuring the Upper House has a functioning Chair.

🧠 UPSC Case Study Prep:
Frame a question:

"Discuss the constitutional implications of an unexpected resignation of the Vice-President and its impact on the functioning of the Rajya Sabha."

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🧩 For the UPSC Mind

This event isn’t just political news — it’s a living case study of:

• Constitutional design under stress

• The importance of communication in governance

• The silent power of parliamentary decorum

As future civil servants, remember: sometimes, the reason isn’t in the resignation, but in what it reveals about systemic cohesion.

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🔖 Written with insight and vision by Suryavanshi IAS — for aspirants who go beyond current affairs, and seek understanding.