New Delhi, July 21 . Veteran lawyer and political figure Jagdeep Dhankhar served as the 14th Vice President of India from 2022 till his resignation on July 21, 2025. He resigned from the post of Vice President on Monday on health grounds. His tenure was short. He was known for his firm grasp on parliamentary procedures and sharp legal acumen. He remained actively involved with national issues throughout his public life.
Jagdeep Dhankhar’s journey from a rural area of Rajasthan to one of the highest constitutional posts in India is a story of perseverance, versatility and public service. He has been in public life for more than four decades.
Born on May 18, 1951 in Kithana, a small village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, Jagdeep Dhankhar hails from a simple farmer family. He is often referred to as a ‘Kisan Putra’ (son of a farmer) and this background was also highlighted by the BJP in its political messaging later during his nomination for the post of Vice President.
He completed his schooling from Sainik School, Chittorgarh, known for producing many notable military and public service personalities. He later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Rajasthan University, Jaipur and completed his LLB from the same university.
Dhankar started his legal practice after registering with the Rajasthan Bar Council in 1979. His reputation as an accomplished legal expert grew rapidly. In 1990 he was appointed Senior Advocate by the Rajasthan High Court and became one of the most respected legal professionals in the state.
He practised in several High Courts and the Supreme Court of India, where he argued a wide variety of cases. Dhankar was appointed President of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association. This role further strengthened his reputation in the legal community.
He entered politics in 1989 by winning the Lok Sabha election from Jhunjhunu on a Janata Dal ticket. His outspoken advocacy in Parliament soon earned him a ministerial position. He was appointed Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990 during the tenure of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.
He took on the crucial coordination between the government and the legislature. He later represented the Kishangarh constituency as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1993 to 1998.
Dhankhar remained politically active and was associated with several parties, including the Janata Dal, the Indian National Congress (INC) and eventually the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Dhankhar was appointed Governor of West Bengal in July 2019. While in this position, he remained at the centre of political turmoil in the state. During his tenure, he had frequent clashes with the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over issues of federalism, appointments in universities and law and order.
His critics accused him of violating constitutional limits. However, Dhankhar insisted that he was working to uphold democratic principles.
On July 16, 2022, the BJP declared Dhankhar as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the post of Vice President. In the vice-presidential election held on August 6, 2022, Dhankhar defeated opposition candidate Margaret Alva by 528 out of 710 valid votes, and secured 74.37 per cent of the votes, the biggest margin of victory since 1992. The Trinamool Congress abstained from voting in his election and only two of its members voted.
As Vice President, Dhankhar also served as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, where he presided over several important legislative sessions. Known for his strict adherence to parliamentary rules and forthright approach, Dhankhar was respected and challenged equally across parties.
