Jagdeep Dhankhar applies for MLA pension after stepping down as VP

Jaipur: Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has moved to resume his pension as a legislator in Rajasthan, officials confirmed on Thursday.

A spokesperson of the Rajasthan Assembly Secretariat explained, “We received the application two days ago. If elected to any ministerial, gubernatorial, or presidential post, an MLA’s pension gets suspended by the state assembly secretariat. Now, after stepping down from the vice president’s post on July 21, Dhankhar has re-applied for the pension for his previous legislative term in Rajasthan’s Kishangarh from 1993 to 1998.”

What was his earlier pension status?

Dhankhar had earlier received pension as a former MLA for representing Kishangarh as a Congress legislator. However, this stopped in July 2019 when he was appointed Governor of West Bengal on 20 July. His entitlement was then suspended under the rules.

What happens after his resignation?

With his resignation as Vice President on 21 July, citing “health issues”, Dhankhar has approached the Assembly Secretariat once again. An official said the pension request has been taken up and will be effective from the date his resignation was formally accepted.

How much will Dhankhar receive?

An official from the Assembly Secretariat detailed, “The pension for a former MLA in Rajasthan starts at Rs 35,000 per month for a single term and increases with additional terms and age. Those above 70 receive a 20 percent hike. Dhankhar, now 74, is therefore entitled to ₹42,000 per month as a former legislator.”