NEW DELHI [India]: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening resigned from his position, citing health reasons, thereby triggering a mid-term vacancy for the second-highest constitutional office in India. Dhankhar, who also served as the Rajya Sabha Chairman, submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, stating his decision was to “prioritise health care” and take immediate effect.
Dhankhar was elected as the Vice President of India in 2022 and his term was set to conclude in 2027. His resignation marks a significant development, coming on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament and reportedly taking many, including the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), by surprise.
What Happens Next?
With both the Vice President’s post and the Rajya Sabha Chairman position now vacant, the Indian Constitution outlines the following procedures:
1. Vacancy of Vice President: The Vice President’s post will remain vacant until a new individual is elected by an electoral college comprising members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Unlike the expiry of a term, where elections must be completed within 60 days, the Constitution does not specify a rigid deadline for filling a vacancy caused by resignation. However, the election is required to be held “as soon as possible.”
The Election Commission of India will announce the schedule for the election, which will be conducted under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. The voting will take place in Parliament House in New Delhi through a secret ballot, with each Member of Parliament (MP) ranking candidates by preference using a single transferable vote system. The candidate securing the highest first-preference votes will be elected.
The newly elected Vice President will serve a full five-year term, meaning they will remain in office until 2030, not just for the remainder of Dhankhar’s original tenure.
2. Who is Eligible to Become Vice President? As per the Constitution, a candidate for Vice President must:
- Be a citizen of India.
- Be at least 35 years of age.
- Be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- Not hold any office of profit under the Government of India, a State Government, or any local or other authority subject to the control of said Governments.
3. Role of Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman: With Dhankhar’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha Chairman post, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh from Janata Dal (United), is expected to step in and preside over the House proceedings as interim chair until a new Vice President is elected. The Deputy Chairman performs the duties of the Chairman when the office is vacant or when the Vice President acts as President or discharges the functions of the President. In such instances, the Deputy Chairman assumes all the powers of the Chairman.
Prior to his tenure as Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar served as the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. In the 2022 Vice Presidential election, he secured 74.37% of the votes, recording the highest poll-victory margin since the 1992 election. His sudden departure opens the field for political discussions and the selection of a new nominee by the ruling alliance.