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The Congress anticipates that Dhankhar might eventually reveal damaging information about the government. However, sources say the government is prepared to counter this
The TMC was keen on an impeachment motion against Jagdeep Dhankhar, but it failed due to duplicated signatures from two Congress MPs, which Trinamool sources claim was a deliberate act to protect Dhankhar. File pic
Politicians often find opportunities in times of trouble, and Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation has become a contentious issue in Parliament. Opposition parties, especially the Congress, see it as a chance to challenge the government. Dhankhar, previously criticised by the opposition as a “government puppet”, is now the focal point of their efforts to “defend him”.
The Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Samajwadi Party have questioned his sudden resignation, speculating whether he was forced out. Dhankhar’s departure is now being used to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government. Sources suggest that many secrets are emerging. Notably, the Trinamool Congress skipped the INDIA bloc meeting on Tuesday, despite its MPs being in the national capital. The TMC’s absence is attributed to its long-standing animosity with Dhankhar. The party only engaged with him when he became vice president out of constitutional duty, but no TMC MP has had a close meeting with him in the past year and a half.
The TMC was keen on an impeachment motion against Dhankhar, but it failed due to duplicated signatures from two Congress MPs, which Trinamool sources claim was a deliberate act to protect Dhankhar.
The Congress allegedly wanted two impeachment proceedings: one against Justice Varma and another against Justice Yadav. Dhankhar reportedly assured the party that he would look into it, though he was noncommittal.
The PM’s non-post on X regarding Shri Jagdeep Dhankar’s forced resignation has only added to the mystery of his abrupt exit. Surely the PM could have been a bit more gracious–he is, after all, the supreme master of hypocrisy. The kisanputra is being denied even a dignified…— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 22, 2025
Sources say the government was not too concerned about the Kharge and Kejriwal meetings, but Dhankhar’s interest in a double impeachment alarmed it, especially as the ruling NDA planned to have one vote from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The credit for initiating the impeachment motion against Justice Varma is seen as a larger fight against corruption, something the government would not want to attribute solely to the opposition.
The Congress, RJD, SP, and TMC were largely united in their stance, but sources say Trinamool has not forgiven the Congress for what it views as a failed impeachment attempt against Dhankhar. It believes the Congress was aligning with the vice president, whom it had always criticised as a “government stooge”.
The Congress was quick to question Dhankhar’s sudden resignation. Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Tejashwi Yadav from the opposition all raised concerns, aiming to use the Dhankhar issue to attack the Prime Minister and the BJP. They view Dhankhar as a lesser enemy compared to the government. The Congress hopes to prove that the BJP does not tolerate dissent, drawing parallels with Satya Pal Malik, the former lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir. The party anticipates that Dhankhar might eventually reveal damaging information about the government.
However, sources say the government is aware of the Congress’s strategy and is prepared to counter it.
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Read More
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Read More
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