Jagdeep Dhankhar's Exit: Did Congress Score A Political Win Or Shoot Itself In The Foot?

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 10:39 IST

Strategically, Congress's separate impeachment motion against Justice Varma was aimed at putting pressure on the government to also act on the Yadav issue.

A Congress strategy was meeting held on July 8 at the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, to discuss the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. (Image: PTI)

The latest political storm surrounding Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation may have had its roots in a Congress strategy meeting held on July 8 at the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The gathering, which included senior leaders like P Chidambaram, was convened to discuss the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. Chidambaram reportedly pushed for the government to be cornered into taking a clear stand on the impeachment of another judge, Justice Shekhar Yadav. The Congress took strong objection to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s earlier comment that “there is a difference between corruption and a speech," referring to the two judges in question.

Eventually, Congress resolved to submit a separate impeachment motion against Justice Varma in the Rajya Sabha, gathering 65 signatures including support from other opposition parties. Strategically, this was aimed at putting pressure on the government to also act on the Yadav issue.

Leaders like Kharge, Arvind Kejriwal, and Jairam Ramesh submitted the motion to the Vice President, who, Congress sources claim, assured them he would “look into it." But when Dhankhar mentioned the motion in the Rajya Sabha on July 22, it triggered a political uproar. While the government was caught off-guard and visibly upset, several in Congress felt the plan had succeeded. However, it came at a cost — yet again, opposition unity was fractured.

Tensions rose as parties like TMC and SP, and even several Congress MPs, were irked by some Congress leaders appearing to empathise with Dhankhar. A social media post by Jairam Ramesh referring to Dhankhar as “kisan putra" being denied a dignified farewell didn’t sit well with many. Ironically, it was Congress that had suggested a farewell speech at the BAC meeting — a proposal no one supported.

Now, questions swirl over whether Congress has undermined its own credibility by trying to score political points while expressing regret for a man it once tried to impeach.

News politics Jagdeep Dhankhar's Exit: Did Congress Score A Political Win Or Shoot Itself In The Foot?