Not right to cast doubt on VP Dhankhar's resignation: BJP leader Bawankule

The Congress claimed the reasons behind Dhankhar's resignation are 'far deeper' than health issues cited by him.

Nagpur: Maharashtra Revenue Minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday said Jagdeep Dhankhar had a spotless life and it was not right to cast suspicion on his resignation as Vice President.

Dhankhar (74), resigned on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament on Monday, citing medical reasons. He sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he was stepping down with immediate effect.

Vice President of India is ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

The Congress on Tuesday claimed the reasons behind Dhankhar's resignation are "far deeper" than health issues cited by him.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed Dhankhar "took umbrage" as Union ministers J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju skipped the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting.

Nadda on Tuesday said the Vice President's office was informed that he and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju would not attend a BAC meeting convened by Dhankhar on Monday evening, shortly before he resigned from the post.

Asked about questions being raised over Dhankhar's resignation, Bawankule said, "If someone's health is not well and he cannot serve justice while being in that post, then the person has to take such decision in that situation."

"I feel whatever reason he has given is right, because there cannot be any other reason. Dhankhar ji has a spotless life and it is not right to have such suspicions about him," he said.

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate on Tuesday he will take legal action against the opposition leaders who "defamed" him by sharing a video claiming he was playing a game of 'rummy' on his mobile phone in the legislative council last week during the legislature's monsoon session.

Kokate also said he will write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and legislative council chairperson Ram Shinde to investigate the video and if found guilty, he will resign immediately.

Asked about it, Bawankule said," Kokateji himself has expressed his position. (CM) Devendra ji has said an inquiry will be done and if something comes out, then Kokate ji himself has spoken in that regard, so it would not be right for me to say anything on it."

To a query on alleged differences among the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies over the next leader of opposition in the legislative council, Bawankule claimed there were so many disputes in the MVA that its leaders could not hold a joint press conference on the last day of the legislature's monsoon session (on July 18).

"They did press conferences separately and with this we can understand who will become the opposition leader from them as all three of them (referring to MVA constituents Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP-SP) are fighting with each other," he said.

The tenure of Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve, who is the leader of opposition in the council, will end next month.