NEW DELHI: Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation from the post of Vice President has triggered an unexpected wave of admiration from opposition MPs, many of whom had previously clashed with him over alleged partisanship.Several leaders who once accused Dhankhar of bias or filed a no-confidence motion against him are now urging him to reconsider his decision, hailing him as a “kisanputra” (son of a farmer) deserving of a dignified farewell.Among them is Congress president and leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, who had often accused Dhankhar of not allowing him to speak in the House. Kharge repeatedly claimed that the Chair violated tradition by denying him the floor during crucial debates.Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh, who once said Dhankhar behaved like a “cheerleader for the government” instead of a neutral umpire, had been the subject of a pending privilege notice for alleged disrespect to the Chair. Ramesh had also led the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Dhankhar, accusing him of conducting House proceedings in a “highly partisan” manner.However, post-resignation, Ramesh took a markedly different tone. In a post on X, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should persuade Dhankhar to withdraw his resignation, calling it “in the nation’s interest.”“The kisanputra is being denied even a dignified farewell,” Ramesh wrote, describing Dhankhar’s resignation as “totally unexpected” and speculating whether his active role in processing two impeachment motions a day earlier had played a part. “He was his good jolly self while presiding yesterday,” Ramesh added, calling the move mysterious.He also claimed the resignation reflected more on those who elevated Dhankhar to the Vice President’s role than on the man himself.Kapil Sibal, another senior lawyer and former Union minister, had earlier been publicly rebuked by Dhankhar over his comments on a rape and murder case in Kolkata and for not attending House proceedings regularly. Despite those clashes, Sibal praised Dhankhar after his resignation, calling him “nationalist and patriotic,” and said he bore no ill will. “He used to speak his mind and never held grudges,” Sibal remarked.Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress, who had numerous confrontations with Dhankhar, was once told in the House, “Your conduct is ugliest. I will show you the door next time.” He was also accused of indulging in theatrics during debates and was suspended during the Winter Session of 2023 for “misconduct.”Other TMC leaders—Sagarika Ghosh, Saket Gokhale, and Kalyan Banerjee—had even mimicked Dhankhar during a protest, leading to further reprimands from the Chair.AAP MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh, both suspended from the House during Dhankhar’s tenure, also had repeated clashes with him. Dhankhar’s sessions with actor-politician Jaya Bachchan too were contentious—Bachchan once demanded an apology for what she called “disrespect towards women MPs.”Senior Congress lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi also drew Dhankhar’s ire after a bundle of ₹500 notes was found near his seat, leading to sharp words from the Chair.Despite all this, the tone across opposition ranks has shifted dramatically in the wake of Dhankhar’s resignation, with several leaders now suggesting his departure leaves a gap in parliamentary functioning—and expressing concern that his exit may not be as voluntary as it seems.(With PTI inputs)
