"Speak to a Doctor": Nadda Slams Kharge as Rajya Sabha Erupts Over Dhankhar

The Winter Session of Parliament began on a stormy note today, December 1, 2025, as the Rajya Sabha descended into chaos during the ceremonial welcome of its new Chairman, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge broke with convention to raise the issue of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's "unexpected and sudden exit" in July, lamenting the lack of a farewell for him. The remarks provoked an immediate and stinging counter-attack from the treasury benches, with Leader of the House JP Nadda dismissing Kharge's comments as frustration over recent electoral defeats, telling him to "speak to a doctor" about his pain.

The Context (How We Got Here)

Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, 2025, citing health reasons, a move that stunned political circles and triggered the first midterm vice-presidential election in India's history. His tenure had been marked by frequent clashes with the opposition, including two no-confidence motions. CP Radhakrishnan, elected in September, assumed the chair today amidst a tense political climate, with the opposition united in demanding a debate on the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The session began just days after the NDA's landslide victory in Bihar, a context the BJP leadership used to frame the opposition's disruptions as "sore loser" theatrics.

The Key Players (Who & So What)

• Mallikarjun Kharge (Leader of Opposition): The provocateur. By using a ceremonial welcome to question the legitimacy of Dhankhar's departure, he signaled that the opposition will not adhere to "business as usual" and views the government's management of parliamentary institutions as suspect.
• JP Nadda (Leader of the House): The defender. His personal jibe ("speak to a doctor") marks a hardening of the government's stance, moving from parliamentary defense to aggressive mockery of the opposition's political fortunes.
• Kiren Rijiju (Parliamentary Affairs Minister): The enforcer. He accused Kharge of "insulting" the former Chairman on a solemn occasion, reinforcing the narrative that the opposition is disrespecting constitutional offices.

The BIGSTORY Reframe

While the headlines focus on the "Doctor" jibe, the deeper story is the "Vanishing Parliament." Derek O'Brien's intervention highlighted a structural collapse: parliamentary sitting days have plummeted from 52 in 1952 to just 15 in this Winter Session—a 71% decline. The Kharge-Nadda clash is a symptom of a legislature that has lost its primary function: debate. With sessions compressed and bills rushed (20 passed in under an hour last year), the Rajya Sabha has become a stage for performative conflict because the space for substantive legislative scrutiny has been systematically erased.

The Implications (Why This Changes Things)

This opening-day breakdown sets a perilous precedent for the rest of the session. If a ceremonial welcome cannot be conducted without acrimony, the chances of productive debate on the 14 scheduled bills—including critical legislation on atomic energy and education—are slim. CP Radhakrishnan faces an immediate crisis of authority; his ability to run the House is now contingent on navigating a breakdown in trust that his predecessor left behind. The "health" of Indian federalism, as O'Brien noted, is now in the ICU.

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If the Parliament cannot even agree on how to say "hello" to a new Chairman or "goodbye" to an old one, how can it possibly agree on the laws that govern the nation?

FAQs

What did Mallikarjun Kharge say about Jagdeep Dhankhar in Rajya Sabha? During the welcome for the new Chairman, Kharge referred to former VP Jagdeep Dhankhar's "unexpected and sudden exit" as "unprecedented" in parliamentary history and expressed regret that the House could not bid him farewell.

Why did JP Nadda tell Kharge to "speak to a doctor"? JP Nadda, Leader of the House, accused Kharge of being bitter over the opposition's recent electoral defeats in Bihar and Maharashtra. He remarked that Kharge should "express his pain and suffering to a doctor," dismissing the comments as politically motivated.

Who is the new Rajya Sabha Chairman? The new Chairman is CP Radhakrishnan, the Vice President of India. He is a former Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand and was elected to the VP post in September 2025.

Why did Jagdeep Dhankhar resign? Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, 2025, citing "health concerns and medical advice." His resignation triggered the first-ever midterm vice-presidential election.

What is the "productivity crisis" in Rajya Sabha? Opposition MP Derek O'Brien pointed out that parliamentary sitting days have collapsed from 52 days a year in 1952 to just 15 days for the current Winter Session, limiting time for debate and scrutiny.

Sources

News Coverage

• Times of India – 'Speak to a doctor': Rajya Sabha witnesses Kharge vs Nadda
• India Today – Mallikarjun Kharge mentions Jagdeep Dhankhar's exit, BJP fires back
• Hindustan Times – Mallikarjun Kharge Jagdeep Dhankhar mention gets BJP's 'go to a doctor' retort
• Deccan Herald – Treasury benches object to Mallikarjun Kharge mentioning Dhankhar's sudden exit

Research & Analysis

• PRS Legislative Research – Parliament Session Alert Winter 2025
• Civils Daily – Declining productivity: Is the Indian Parliament losing its edge?