Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi today said the sudden and unexplained departure of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has raised serious questions and underlined why the Congress party’s political struggle goes beyond merely winning elections. He said the larger fight is about protecting the public’s right to dissent, question authority, and think freely in a democratic system.
In a post on social media platform X, Gogoi referred to the resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and pointed out that there has been little public clarity after the announcement. He said a constitutional authority had stepped down and then “vanished” from public view, which, according to him, should concern citizens in a democracy.
Gogoi argued that democracy does not survive only on voting during elections. Instead, he said, it depends on whether people feel free to ask questions, express disagreement, and hold those in power accountable without fear. He said incidents like this make it important for citizens to understand what political parties stand for and what values they defend. 
The Congress MP’s remarks came in the context of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on July 21, 2025. Dhankhar, who was 74 at the time, stepped down from the constitutional post citing health reasons. His resignation took effect immediately.
In his resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said he was resigning to prioritise his health and follow medical advice. He invoked Article 67(a) of the Constitution, which allows the Vice-President to resign by submitting a letter to the President. The letter was later made public through the Vice-President’s official X account.
Dhankhar had met President Murmu earlier on the evening of his resignation. In the letter, he expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Council of Ministers, and Members of Parliament for their cooperation and goodwill during his tenure as Vice-President.
Earlier this year, in March, Dhankhar had suffered a cardiac episode. He was hospitalised and later reported to have recovered. In the months that followed, he resumed official duties and was seen attending public programmes and parliamentary proceedings, which had led to the general perception that his health had stabilised.
