Speculation runs rampant in political circles following the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, while, on the other hand, the Election Commission has accelerated preparations for the election of a new Vice President.
New Delhi: Political activity has intensified in India following the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Election Commission has commenced preparations for the Vice Presidential election and has appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Modi as the Returning Officer for this election. As part of this process, the Commission has also completed preparations for announcing the election schedule, which will be released in the coming days.
Commencement of the Vice Presidential Election Process
The Election Commission has appointed PC Modi as the Election Officer under the 'President and Vice-President Elections Rules, 1974'. Additionally, Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, and Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, have been appointed as Assistant Returning Officers. According to the Commission, the responsibility was previously assigned to the Lok Sabha Secretary General, so this time it is the turn of the Rajya Sabha Secretary General.
It is noteworthy that Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post citing health reasons, although his term was until August 10, 2027. However, various discussions are ongoing in political circles regarding this resignation.
Opposition Strategy: Preparation for a Joint Candidate
According to sources, the opposition alliance (INDIA Bloc) is preparing to field a joint candidate for the post of Vice President. The opposition believes that this step will send a b political message to the country. Furthermore, the opposition is also raising the issue that Dhankhar resigned in displeasure with the government's working style, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Last time, Margaret Alva was nominated as the candidate from the opposition. This time too, the opposition is searching for a universally acceptable face that can garner widespread support.
BJP Alliance Holds Advantage in Terms of Votes
The election of the Vice President of India is conducted by the elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). Currently, there are a total of 782 members in Parliament, and any candidate requires 392 votes to win.
- Lok Sabha: Out of a total of 543 MPs, the NDA has 293 MPs.
- Rajya Sabha: Out of a total of 240 members, the NDA has 130 members.
- The opposition (INDIA alliance) has 79 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
It is clear from these figures that the BJP alliance has the upper hand. In such a situation, if the opposition wants to register a victory, it will have to garner the support of independents and other regional parties.
BJP to Select Candidate Soon
According to sources, the BJP will soon begin brainstorming on the name of its Vice Presidential candidate. This time, instead of an "experimental" selection, the party may prioritize organizational experience and ideological commitment. Harivansh Narayan Singh, a JDU MP who has served as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for seven years, is being considered. He has earned the trust of the ruling party, and the proceedings of the Parliament have been conducted in a balanced manner during his tenure.
