After Dhankhar Exit, Numbers Stack Up In Favour Of NDA For Vice Presidential Poll: Here's How
Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh said the further constitutional process concerning vacancy in the Office of Vice President of India will be communicated as and when received
A day after the surprise resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of the vice president of India, there has been much speculation on social media about who will assume the office next – from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
The ruling NDA has a comfortable edge in the elections to the post of the next vice president, necessitated by Dhankhar's exit on Monday (July 21).
The Union home ministry notified Dhankhar's resignation on Tuesday, a day after he sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu saying he was stepping down with immediate effect due to medical reasons.
The vice president of India is ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, whose deputy chairman Harivansh presided over the House soon after it met on the second day of the monsoon session in Parliament.
Harivansh told members that the further constitutional process concerning vacancy in the Office of Vice President of India will be communicated as and when received.
The vice president is India's second highest constitutional office. He serves for a five-year term, but can continue to be in office, irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the successor assumes office.
HOW DOES NDA HAVE A COMFORTABLE EDGE?
In Lok Sabha, the BJP-led NDA enjoys the support of 293 members in the 542-member House.
The NDA has the support of 129 members in Rajya Sabha, which has an effective strength of 240, assuming that the nominated members vote in support of the NDA nominee.
Hence, it has the support of 422 members among 786 members – the combined strength of both the Houses.
HOW DO THE POLLS TAKE PLACE?
According to Clause 2 of Article 68 of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the vice president occurring due to his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, will be held 'as soon as possible" after it goes vacant.
The person elected to fill the vacancy will be entitled to hold office 'for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office".
Article 66(1) of the Constitution provides that the election shall be held in accordance with the system of Proportional Representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
In this system, the elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates.
(With PTI inputs)
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First Published:
July 22, 2025, 18:07 IST
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