Dhankhar moves to Abhay Chautala’s farmhouse in Chhatarpur

Nearly six weeks after stepping down, former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening vacated his official bungalow and shifted to Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief Abhay Singh Chautala’s farmhouse in Gadaipur, Chhatarpur, South Delhi.

Sources said Dhankhar will stay at the farmhouse temporarily until his official residence, which he is entitled to as a former Vice-President, is ready.

Confirming the development, Abhay Chautala told The Tribune: “Our family has very close ties with the former Vice-President that go back 50 years. He is like a brother to me and has been coming to our programmes irrespective of whether he was a lawyer, Governor or even the Vice-President.”

Making it clear that Dhankhar was welcome for as long as he wished, Chautala said, “It is his farmhouse also. He does not have to tell me how long he wants it.”

Sources in the INLD said the farmhouse gates were repaired and the premises spruced up over the past three days to meet the security requirements of the former Vice-President, who arrived there Monday evening.

Dhankhar shares a long-standing bond with the Chautala family. He was close to former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal and his son, former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala. While Devi Lal passed away in 2001, OP Chautala died in December last year. Dhankhar had attended the latter’s last rites in Teja Khera village, Sirsa.

Dhankhar resigned from the Vice-President’s office on July 21, the opening day of the monsoon session, citing health reasons. He had been residing at the Vice-President’s Enclave near Parliament House since then, largely away from the public eye. His term was otherwise set to run till August 10, 2027.