Amid continued speculation over who will succeed Jagdeep Dhankhar following his unexpected resignation on the first day of the Monsoon Session, sources have confirmed that the next Vice President of India will be from the BJP, not JD(U) leader and Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur.
According to sources, the BJP is likely to nominate someone who is firmly aligned with the party's core ideology. They dismissed speculation around Ram Nath Thakur being in the running for the post, calling it unfounded. Thakur’s recent meeting with BJP president JP Nadda was described as routine, with sources pointing out that several MPs had also met Nadda around the same time. No discussions were held between the BJP and JD(U) leadership regarding Thakur’s candidature.
Thakur's name gained traction amid talk that the BJP might select a leader from Bihar as the next Vice President, given that the state is headed for Assembly elections soon. One theory suggests that Dhankhar’s resignation could open the door for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to be elevated to the role of Vice President—a move aimed at keeping him engaged at the Centre and strengthening the NDA’s unity ahead of the state polls.
BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur added fuel to the speculation on Tuesday, stating, “It will be very good for Bihar if Nitish Kumar is made the Vice President.” The BJP has never held power in Bihar on its own, and bringing Nitish Kumar to the Centre could create political space in the state while sending a strong signal of continued cooperation within the NDA.
On the same day, Dhankhar did not preside over the Rajya Sabha, and in his absence, Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh, also from the JD(U), chaired the proceedings. Harivansh, who has held the post since 2020, is expected to oversee the House for the remainder of the session. With a Bihar leader in the Chair, the optics may benefit the NDA in the lead-up to the Bihar elections.
Also Read: Congress alleges deeper reasons behind Dhankhar's resignation
Tensions Behind Dhankhar's Resignation
Meanwhile, more details have emerged about the reasons behind Jagdeep Dhankhar’s surprise resignation. Sources suggest that it stemmed from a long-running power struggle with the government, marked by escalating tensions and growing dissatisfaction over several of Dhankhar’s demands.
The immediate flashpoint, according to sources, was Dhankhar’s decision to move forward with an Opposition-backed impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma. The judge had earlier come under scrutiny after a large sum of unaccounted cash was recovered from his residence. Despite repeated requests from the government to delay the motion, Dhankhar reportedly remained in direct contact with a senior Congress leader and pushed ahead, announcing he had secured enough signatures from Opposition MPs to proceed.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Law Minister Arjun Meghwal, and Rajya Sabha Leader JP Nadda had all urged Dhankhar to wait, noting that the government was working on a broader, cross-party impeachment motion in the Lok Sabha. Four to five days before the Monsoon Session began, Rijiju had already informed Dhankhar of the Centre’s intention to bring the motion in the Lower House. This was reiterated the day before the session.
However, Dhankhar’s insistence on acting independently sparked concern within the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly held a meeting with key aides, including the Home Minister, and expressed deep disappointment over Dhankhar’s defiance—especially considering that the BJP had supported his election to the Vice President’s post in 2022.
Also Read: Jagdeep Dhankhar’s exit triggers race for next Vice President
The impeachment motion episode was not the only point of contention. Sources said Dhankhar had been at odds with the government on several issues over recent months. Ahead of US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India, Dhankhar reportedly insisted that, as Vice President of India and Vance’s counterpart, he should host the main diplomatic engagement. A senior Cabinet Minister had to clarify that Vance’s visit was meant to deliver a message from US President Joe Biden to Prime Minister Modi and did not warrant a bilateral VP-level meeting.
In addition, Dhankhar is said to have made several unusual demands during his tenure. These reportedly included a request to have his photograph displayed alongside those of the Prime Minister and the President in all ministerial offices, as well as repeated proposals to upgrade his official vehicle fleet to Mercedes-Benz cars.
The final turning point came on Monday afternoon, when Dhankhar met again with the same senior Congress leader. Without notifying the government, he made an unannounced visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, waited around 25 minutes, and submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. Sources said Dhankhar expected the government to reach out to him or delay the acceptance of his resignation. However, no such outreach followed. The government had already made up its mind that he should step down, and his resignation was accepted without hesitation.
Also Read: What prompted Dhankhar’s resignation? Three possible triggers
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