Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has re-applied to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat for pension as a former legislator, officials told The Indian Express. The former Congress MLA from Rajasthan’s Kishangarh between 1993 and 1998, Dhankhar - who joined the BJP in 2003 - had been receiving MLA's pension until 2019, when he was appointed the Governor of West Bengal and eventually became Vice-President. Dhankhar, 74, stepped down as Vice-President on July 21 citing health reasons. According to officials, the Rajasthan Assembly Secretariat has begun processing the request. Dhankhar, also a former MP, will receive his pension from the date that his resignation as Vice-President was accepted. According to officials, a one-time MLA gets Rs 35,000/month as pension, with this sum progressively increasing with additional terms and age. Septuagenarians like Dhankhar receive a 20 percent hike, and Dhankhar is entitled to Rs 42,000/month as a former legislator, the officials said. This is besides the pensions he would draw as the former Vice-President of India and an ex-Member of Parliament. Dhankhar has kept away from the public eye since his resignation, with his family citing health reasons. However, his complete withdrawal from public life has led to speculations, with the Opposition questioning the sudden resignation and the eventual absence. Meanwhile, members of his staff told The Indian Express this week that the former Vice-President and his wife Sudesh were waiting for a new bungalow to be allotted to move out of their official residence.
