Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar made his first public appearance 52 days after stepping down from office. The occasion was significant: the swearing-in ceremony of C. P. Radhakrishnan as India’s new Vice President.

At Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office and secrecy to Radhakrishnan, who became the 15th Vice President of India. Dhankhar was seated in the front row, right next to another former Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu.

Observers noticed Dhankhar sharing a light conversation with Naidu during the event. A video clip circulating online shows him leaning toward Naidu and speaking in his ear, though the content of their exchange remains private. Dhankhar was also seen smiling while congratulating Radhakrishnan.

First Appearance Since Stepping Down

This was Dhankhar’s first time in the public eye since his resignation on July 21, which he had attributed to health reasons. Since then, he had avoided public gatherings and stayed away from the media spotlight.

His absence had sparked political chatter. The Congress party and other opposition voices even accused the BJP government of keeping him under “house arrest.” Today’s appearance effectively put those speculations to rest.

A Letter and a Message of Support

Earlier this week, Dhankhar issued his first public statement since leaving office. In a letter addressed to his successor, he congratulated Radhakrishnan on assuming the high office and expressed confidence that his wide-ranging experience would bring more dignity to the role.

Dhankhar wrote that Radhakrishnan’s elevation reflected the trust and confidence of the nation’s elected representatives. He added that under his leadership, the Vice President’s office would “certainly gain even greater respect and honor.”

The Election That Brought Radhakrishnan to Office

The Vice Presidential election was held soon after Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation. NDA candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes, comfortably defeating opposition candidate B. Sudarshan Reddy, who managed 300 votes.

The result gave the ruling alliance a clear victory and set the stage for Radhakrishnan to take charge as the country’s 15th Vice President.

Why Dhankhar’s Return Matters

Here’s the thing: a Vice President stepping down before completing his term is rare, and Dhankhar’s sudden exit had left a vacuum and raised questions. His reappearance at such a high-profile event signals not only continuity but also a willingness to remain engaged in public life, even if in a more subdued way.

What this really means is that the political narrative around his absence may now shift, as his presence at Rashtrapati Bhavan suggests he is neither sidelined nor invisible.

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