Speaking from the Opposition benches, Kharge recalled that Dhankhar resigned in July citing health reasons, and lamented that no formal farewell was arranged — a departure from parliamentary tradition. He urged the new Chairman to uphold impartiality in presiding over the House, warning that a tilt in favour of the ruling side could prove “dangerous.”
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply objected to Kharge’s remarks, calling it inappropriate to raise the issue during the formal swearing-in of Radhakrishnan. He reminded members of the harsh language the Opposition had previously used against Dhankhar and said revisiting the matter at that juncture was unnecessary.
Radhakrishnan took oath as the 15th Vice President and ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, after the resignation of Dhankhar earlier this year. Following the resignation, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh had temporarily presided over the House until a new Chairman assumed office, as mandated under the Constitution.
The absence of a farewell to Dhankhar and the abrupt nature of his resignation have triggered fresh debate about parliamentary norms and the propriety of timing when raising such issues. Some members of the House spoke of a missed gesture of institutional dignity, while others argued that revisiting a closed chapter at a ceremonial moment undermines decorum.