Dhankhar precipitates a crisis

Political analysts are still trying to figure out the exact reasons which led to the sudden resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on the first day of the monsoon session, and health issues are certainly not among them.

- PANKAJ VOHRA

While the BJP is on the backfoot following this unprecedented action, the Opposition too is unsure on whether Dhankhar would speak out and explain what led to his taking such a drastic step. The erstwhile Chairman of the Rajya Sabha had been under fire from the Opposition parties for his arbitrary decisions in the House which were perceived to be anything but neutral.

In fact, it was barely six months ago, that a no-confidence motion against him was moved by parties opposed to the BJP, but the matter remained inconclusive due to technical reasons. Observers of Parliament proceedings for decades had found that the presiding officers of both the Houses had not been impartial in their rulings which were one-sided, and favoured the Treasury Benches, while putting the Opposition on notice. Therefore, in such a background, Dhankhar's dropping a political bombshell was never anticipated. Even the BJP's top leaders with whom the former VP had some sort of confrontation never thought that he would resign.

Their objective was to perhaps scare him into submission.

There are multiple versions which have been doing the rounds regarding the reasons, and till Dhankhar himself comes out to clear the air, more and more reports would continue to be discussed and debated in political circles.