Veep successor watch: Political buzz grows after Dhankhar's resignation
Various theories have emerged regarding the reasons behind Dhankhar's resignation, with many citing alleged differences between him and the government over the proposed motion to remove two justices.
Dhankhar resigned from his post late on Monday, citing health reasons.
"To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution," his resignation letter read.
On Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha was informed that the vice president's resignation had been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu, with the Ministry of Home Affairs issuing a notification stating that the resignation takes effect immediately.
While the exact reasons for Dhankhar's decision remain unclear, several names are already doing the rounds as potential candidates for the Vice Presidential election.
Among the frontrunners are Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State in the NDA Cabinet at the Centre and son of Bharat Ratna awardee and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur; Bihar Governor Mohammad Arif Khan; and former BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
With Bihar heading to elections later this year, the name of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—whose party JD(U) is part of the NDA governments at both the state and the Centre—has also resurfaced, as he has long been speculated as a possible contender.
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