Nitish Kumar trends as next VP after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns citing health

Hours after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation on July 21, the first day of the Monsoon Session 2025, social media buzzed with speculation about his possible successor. One name that stood out was Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The discussion started after a tweet from a senior journalist and author suggested Kumar might take on the constitutional role.

Many users joined the conversation, debating whether the JD(U) veteran could be the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) choice for the Vice Presidency. While there has been no official statement from the government or the party, the online speculation has only intensified.

Dhankhar, who became Vice President in 2022, mentioned health issues as the reason for his resignation, which arrived just hours after he led the Rajya Sabha on Monday morning. Before stepping down, Dhankhar made news by reading a detailed statement about a motion to remove Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma.

The motion, supported by over 50 members of the Rajya Sabha, was filed under Article 217(1)(b) and Article 218 of the Constitution, along with Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. Explaining the legal details, Dhankhar noted that if two such motions are introduced in separate Houses, only the first one submitted is considered.

His sudden departure has sparked political interest and caught even the ruling alliance off guard. Currently, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, is acting as Chairperson under Article 91 of the Constitution until a new Vice President is elected.