Jagdeep Dhankhar
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: A day after the Ministry of Home Ministry notified the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President, the Election Commission on Wednesday said it has begun the process of holding the election to fill the post of second-highest constitutional position in the country.
The poll body has started constituting the electoral college comprising MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including 12 nominated members. While the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can have 788 members, there are five vacancies -- five in Jammu and Kashmir and one in Haryana -- in Rajya Sabha and one in Lok Sabha -- Basirhat.
It is also finalising the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers for the election besides initiation of dissemination of background material on all previous Vice Presidential elections.
"The Election Commission of India has already started the preparations relating to the Vice-Presidential Elections, 2025. On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the election schedule to the office of the Vice-President of India will follow as soon as possible," a statement said.
With the EC statement kickstarting the process, the ruling NDA and the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. will soon be initiating discussions on their candidates.
There was speculation about Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh among others becoming NDA candidates. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be BJP-NDA candidate.
Sources in the Opposition I.N.D.I.A said they would surely field a candidate against the BJP-NDA, as they are seeing it as a platform to raise a "political and ideological" fight against the ruling regime.
The election was necessitated by the dramatic announcement of resignation by Dhankhar on July 21 night citing health concerns. However, the real reason is said to be growing differences between Dhankhar and the government with him accepting an Opposition-sponsored impeachment notice against Justice Yashwant Varma.
For electing a successor to a Vice President who is completing his term, the rules poll should be held within 60 days of the expiry of the term of office of the outgoing Vice-President. The Constitution does not put a specific time-frame in case of death, resignation or removal but says that the election should be held "as soon as possible".
The polling should be completed within 30 days of notification is issued, "calling the electoral college to vote", and till the day of the poll, a period of 30 days is stipulated.