Imported Trouble

For a party that prides itself on discipline, hierarchy and ‘nationalist’ loyalty, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a curious weakness for elevating defectors to positions of high office - only to be left red-faced when these political imports go rogue. The abrupt resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose only crime seems to be taking his constitutional role too literally, marks the second such embarrassment in just over a decade. The first was the bombastic Satyapal Malik, another Modi-era appointee who went from gubernatorial respectability to anti-government gadfly.

This time, the drama unfolded in the solemn chambers of the Rajya Sabha, where Dhankhar as Chairman stunned his own party by accepting an Opposition-led impeachment motion against sitting High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma before the government could unveil its own, carefully choreographed, ‘bipartisan’ move in the Lok Sabha. By all accounts, the Vice President’s prompt acceptance of the Opposition’s notice not only undercut the BJP’s plans for a consensus-driven process but triggered a frenzied and frankly farcical, signature collection drive among bewildered NDA MPs. Some were reportedly asked to sign on blank sheets, others weren’t told what they were signing. Not exactly the textbook definition of parliamentary dignity.

The BJP’s master plan had been simple: control the narrative by being seen as a responsible, reform-minded government acting in lockstep with the Opposition to cleanse the judiciary of corruption. Dhankhar, alas, had other ideas. By entertaining the Opposition’s notice without so much as a courtesy call to the Treasury benches, he forced the government to play catch-up and lose. His announcement in the Rajya Sabha rendered the BJP’s efforts redundant. And since impeachment motions can begin in either House, the race to the starting line became the finish line.

The response from the government has been a study in sulky restraint. A brief tweet from the Prime Minister followed by radio silence.

This is ironical considering how much political capital the BJP once invested in Dhankhar, a lawyer from Rajasthan with Janata Dal origins. When he was installed as the Governor of West Bengal, Dhankar was celebrated for his daily spats with Mamata Banerjee. For the BJP, he seemed useful - until he wasn’t.

Earlier, Satyapal Malik, once lauded for his ‘nationalist’ credentials, turned out to be a ticking time bomb, regularly undermining the BJP’s narrative on Kashmir and farmers. Dhankhar has been more subtle, but no less disruptive. Was it principle, pique, or political calculation that made him side with the Opposition’s initiative? Either way, the damage to the BJP is undeniable.

The party has once again discovered that opportunism cuts both ways. While the BJP leadership is famously intolerant of internal dissent, it continues to roll out the red carpet for ambitious outsiders with no ideological grounding in the Sangh Parivar. Then it acts surprised when these newcomers fail to display fealty to the cause. Twice bitten, the BJP should learn not to outsource top posts to ambitious turncoats.