New Delhi, India: The race for India’s vice president election is heating up after Dhankhar’s resignation. Key candidates have come forward. There is a lot going on in Indian politics right now because Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar unexpectedly resigned from the country’s second-highest constitutional office, saying health considerations were the reason. The Constitution says that an election to fill such a vacancy must be held “as soon as possible,” therefore a quick succession process is expected, even though we are still waiting for an official announcement from the Election Commission of India. Several well-known people are now in the running for the important position of Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, which Dhankhar held till his death.
While the chances of each candidate winning are still up in the air, let’s take a closer look at some of the people that are currently being talked about in political circles:
- Nitish Kumar: The Surprising Candidate from Bihar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a long-time politician, has become a surprisingly strong candidate for Vice President, even though many people thought he would not be a good pick at first. Calls from inside the NDA alliance, including figures like Upendra Kushwaha, have fueled speculation that Kumar would resign as Chief Minister to make room for a new generation of leaders in Bihar.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s recent revelation that he will run for office in Bihar adds to this hypothesis. This has made some people wonder if the Vice President’s job could be a dignified and honorable way for one of India’s longest-serving Chief Ministers to leave office and move on to a big national job.
- V.K. Saxena: Is he going from being Delhi’s LG to a “Bigger Assignment”?
Another name that keeps coming up is V.K. Saxena, the 67-year-old Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. There has been a lot of talk about him getting a “bigger assignment” even though he has only been in his current job for three years. Saxena used to work for a company and is now a well-known figure in Delhi politics. He often disagrees with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership.
During his time in office, there have been a number of administrative problems, such as hiring and regulations connected to the Delhi Jal Board. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has considered him as a major obstacle. Some observers say that this perceived conflict may have unintentionally made him look like a powerful administrative figure, which might have helped him get a higher constitutional job.
- Manoj Sinha: Is it time for a change in Jammu & Kashmir?
Manoj Sinha, 66, is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He seems like a good candidate because his term is about to finish. Sinha’s five-year tenure as LG of J&K ends on August 6, therefore moving to the Vice Presidency is a great moment to do so.
Sinha is an old BJP member from Uttar Pradesh who used to be a junior minister of railways. His supporters say that he helped bring some stability to Jammu and Kashmir when Article 370 was repealed. However, his time in office is coming to an end against the sad backdrop of the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, which killed 25 visitors and a pony operator. As LG, he is ultimately in charge of the region’s safety, which will definitely be taken into account as the selection process moves further.
The election for India’s Vice President is held by an electoral college made up of members from both Houses of Parliament. It uses a form of proportional representation with a single transferable vote and a secret ballot. The individual who wins this election will serve a full five-year term starting on the day they take office. This shows how important this election is.