New Delhi: The unexpected resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday has set the stage for a fresh, high-stakes election for India’s second-highest constitutional post. As the numbers currently stand, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a distinct advantage, positioning itself comfortably to secure the vice presidency.
Where the Numbers Stand
The vice presidential election is decided by votes from members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The current composition of Parliament heavily favors the NDA:
- Lok Sabha: Out of 543 members, there is one vacant seat (Basirhat in West Bengal), bringing the effective strength to 542.
- Rajya Sabha: Of the 245 members, five seats are vacant—four from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Punjab, following Sanjeev Arora’s resignation after being elected to the state assembly. This reduces the effective strength of the Rajya Sabha to 240.
Combining both Houses, the total strength for the upcoming vice presidential vote stands at 782 members. This means a candidate requires 392 votes to win a simple majority.
The BJP-led NDA currently commands significant support:
- Lok Sabha: The alliance has the backing of 293 members in the 542-member House.
- Rajya Sabha: The ruling alliance has the support of 129 members in the effective 240-member Rajya Sabha, assuming that the nominated members will vote in favor of the NDA nominee.
In total, the NDA commands the support of 422 members (293 + 129) across both Houses. This comfortably surpasses the 392-vote mark needed for victory, giving the NDA a commanding position in the forthcoming contest.
The Electoral Process Ahead
According to Article 68(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiry of a vice president’s term must be completed before the term expires. However, in cases where a vacancy arises due to resignation, death, removal, or other reasons, like in the current scenario, the election to fill that vacancy is held “as soon as possible after the occurrence.”
The election follows a system of proportional representation using a single transferable vote and voting by secret ballot. Members of both Houses rank candidates in order of their preference.
The Vice President holds the second-highest constitutional office in India and serves a five-year term. However, they continue in office, irrespective of the expiry of their term, until their successor assumes office.
Given the NDA’s strong numerical advantage, do you think the opposition will field a strong candidate, or will it be more of a symbolic contest?