It was, however, in Kolkata’s Raj Bhawan, where Dhankhar’s personality found full expression. Appointed Governor of West Bengal, he repeatedly clashed with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, casting aside traditional notions of gubernatorial neutrality. Daily duels and dramatic statements defined his tenure. To many, it seemed less a governorship than a one-man opposition front, laced with personal vendettas and partisan edge.Yet what seemed like overreach to his detractors looked like assertiveness to those in Delhi. His combative stint in Bengal may well have burnished his image in the eyes of the ruling NDA, which tapped him for the Vice Presidency, a post that he approached not as a constitutional referee but sort of a player-coach.In Parliament, Dhankhar quickly became a central, polarising figure. His defenders hailed a Vice President unafraid to call out disorder. His critics accused him of stifling dissent, echoing the high-handedness of his gubernatorial days. Walkouts in the Rajya Sabha became routine. The Opposition bristled at what they saw as partisan moderation. Accusations of overstepping his constitutional mandate trailed him persistently.The turning point, perhaps, came when Dhankhar admitted an Opposition notice against a sitting judge—seen by some in government as premature and unsanctioned. The move sparked speculation about internal rifts, followed by his unexpected outreach to the Opposition. On the foreign front, he made only four overseas visits during his tenure—far fewer than Venkaiah Naidu’s 13 and Hamid Ansari’s 28. His Tehran trip for President Raisi’s funeral drew criticism due to protocol lapses. At home, Dhankhar’s combative tone in questioning the judiciary on issues like bill assent and the NJAC drew flak. He wanted to be the system’s hand. But, in the end, the system pulled back. Unconventional? Certainly. He was. Forgotten? Time will tell.
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