Opposition Mulling Joint Candidate For Vice President Election After Jagdeep Dhankhar's Exit
The INDIA bloc is likely to field a joint candidate for the vice presidential election. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has made some appointments to oversee the poll process.
With Jagdeep Dhankhar's exit as Vice President, the INDIA bloc is likely to contest the vice presidential poll after a collective decision on a common candidate, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.
Sources also told PTI that the bloc feels that the numbers are not overwhelmingly stacked against the opposition despite the BJP-led NDA having a majority.
They added that there is a feeling that the opposition parties should not shy away from a contest to send a strong political message, irrespective of the outcome.
The effective strength of both the Houses together is 782, and the winning candidate will require to win 392 votes in the election for the vice president, considering all eligible voters exercise their franchise.
All members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including the nominated ones, vote in the vice presidential poll.
The ruling alliance has the support of about 130 members in the Rajya Sabha, which has an effective strength of 240, assuming that the nominated members vote in support of the NDA nominee.
Effectively, the NDA has 423 members and the INDIA bloc has 313 members in Parliament, remaining being non-aligned.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has already begun the process of holding the vice presidential election and will soon notify the dates.
It also, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Rajya Sabha chairman, appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, as the Returning Officer for ensuring a smooth vice presidential election.
The Election Commission also appointed Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and Shri Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as Assistant Returning Officers during the course of the vice presidential election.
The requisite gazette notification for the same is expected to be issued on July 25.
JAGDEEP DHANKHAR's EXIT
In a sudden move, Jagdeep Dhankhar quit as Vice President on the evening of July 21, citing medical reasons, though there have been consistent murmurs about other reasons behind his resignation.
Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022, and his tenure was till August 2027.
He was also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha by virtue of being the Vice President, and his resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
Dhankhar had recently undergone angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
He had several run-ins with the opposition, which had also moved a motion to impeach him.
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
27 minutes ago
- First Post
'Ties with Russia time-tested': India says relations not driven by third parties amid Trump criticism
'Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership,' said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal read more A day after US President Donald Trump questioned the economic and strategic ties between India and Russia, New Delhi on Friday rejected suggestions of any strain in India-Russia relations, saying the two countries have a 'steady and time-tested partnership.' Addressing a weekly briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Delhi | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership." — ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2025 Trump on Thursday took to social media to criticise both India and Russia, dismissing their economic partnership and accusing India of imposing excessively high tariffs. 'I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'We have done very little business with India — their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together,' he added. When asked about Trump's broader comments, Jaiswal emphasised the strength of the India-US relationship. #WATCH | Delhi | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties. This partnership has weathered several transitions and… — ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties. This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and are confident that the relationship will continue to move forward,' he said. On India's defence cooperation, Jaiswal said, 'The sourcing of our defence requirements is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments.' He declined to respond to former President Trump's suggestion that India might consider purchasing oil from Pakistan, stating, 'I have no comments to offer in this matter.' With inputs from agencies
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump's Tariff Bomb: Will It Impact Indian Consumers? Ex-Finance Secy Subhash Chandra Garg Explains
In this hard-hitting interview, Subhash Chandra Garg, former Finance and Economic Affairs Secretary of India, breaks down how US President Donald Trump's 25% import tariff will directly impact Indian consumers. He explains how the yet-to-be-finalised India-US Trade Deal could affect key sectors like MSMEs, agriculture, and small traders. Garg warns of rising costs, disrupted supply chains, and shrinking market access. With clarity and precision, he outlines India's trade strategy, highlights the risks of over-dependence on select markets, and suggests how policymakers can safeguard national interest while navigating global economic headwinds. A must-watch for anyone tracking India's economic future.#donaldtrump #trumptariff #tariffwar #indiaustrade #indiatariff #subhashchandragarg #msme #indianeconomy #geopolitics #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #trendin #indianews Read More
Hans India
27 minutes ago
- Hans India
Japanese Banks' investments in India growing stronger: Envoy
New Delhi: Japanese Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi, on Friday said he had an engaging discussion with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on the growing role of Japanese banks in India's economy. Sharing the update on social media platform X, the envoy highlighted that the meeting focused on the expansion of Japanese banks' investments in India and how they are increasingly contributing to the country's economic growth. 'Honoured to meet Sanjay Malhotra, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India(RBI). We had an engaging discussion on the expansion of Japanese banks' investments in India and their growing contribution to the Indian economy,' Keiichi wrote on X. The meeting comes as India and Japan continue to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with greater emphasis on trade, investment, and financial cooperation. In recent years, Japanese financial institutions have expanded their footprint in India, supporting infrastructure projects, industrial growth, and business collaborations. Earlier, senior officials from both nations had reaffirmed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Japan later this year. During a high-level dialogue in the national capital on July 28, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Japan's Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi agreed to enhance cooperation in security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, while working closely within frameworks such as the Japan-US-Australia-India partnership to promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. "At the Japan-India Vice-Ministerial Dialogue, the two Secretaries confirmed that, in anticipation of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Japan scheduled for this year, they would work to strengthen bilateral relations in a wide range of areas, including security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, and would further cooperate, including within the Japan-US-Australia-India framework, towards the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," read a statement issued by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 28 evening. "In addition to bilateral relations, the two Secretaries also exchanged views on regional situations, and agreed to continue to cooperate closely between the two Secretaries. During the exchange of views with Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations," it added.
