Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns : Election Process For New Vice President To Begin Within 24 Hours
Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as the Vice President of India on Monday evening, citing medical reasons. The process to elect his successor is expected to be initiated by the Election Commission of India within the next 24 hours, with the election likely to be completed in a month, according to Parliament sources.
Dhankhar, 74, submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, stating he was stepping down with immediate effect to “prioritise health care and abide by medical advice”. His resignation, which came just two years into his five-year term, has sparked widespread speculation, as he had appeared to be in good health earlier in the day while presiding over the Rajya Sabha.
The unexpected departure on the opening day of the Monsoon Session has left political circles buzzing. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Dhankhar “good health,” opposition leaders expressed surprise and suggested there might be more to the story than the stated reasons.
With Dhankhar’s exit, the process to fill the country’s second-highest constitutional office is now set in motion. According to the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy caused by resignation must be held “as soon as possible”. The newly elected Vice President will hold office for a full five-year term.
The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of all members—both elected and nominated—of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The election uses a system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote, conducted by secret ballot.
Based on the current strength of Parliament, the electoral college comprises 786 members. A candidate will need 394 votes to win. The ruling BJP-led NDA coalition appears to have a comfortable majority with a combined strength of 422 members in both Houses.
Dhankhar is the third Vice President in India’s history to resign before completing his term, following V.V. Giri in 1969 and R. Venkataraman in 1987, both of whom stepped down to successfully contest the presidential election.
Government sources have indicated that Dhankhar will be allotted a government bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi, and his security protocol will continue as per existing norms.
