New Delhi: In a surprising turn of events, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation on Monday evening, citing health-related reasons. The announcement came just hours after the Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced, catching political circles and the public off guard.
In his formal letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar stated, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.” At 74 years old, Dhankhar had assumed office in August 2022, with his term originally scheduled to run until August 2027.
With his resignation, Dhankhar has also stepped down from his ex-officio role as Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, creating a constitutional vacancy that will now trigger the process for electing a new Vice President.
What Happens Next?
As per the Constitution of India, an election to fill the Vice President’s vacancy must be conducted as soon as possible. The Election Commission of India will announce the schedule in the coming days. The person elected will serve a full five-year term from the date they assume office.
Who Can Become the Vice President?
To be eligible for the post, a candidate must:
- Be a citizen of India
- Be at least 35 years old
- Be qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha
- Not hold any office of profit under the central or state government
How Is the Vice President Elected?
The election is conducted by the Election Commission through a secret ballot using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. The Electoral College for this election includes all elected and nominated members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Voters (MPs) rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures the required quota of votes in the first round, the candidate with the least number of first-preference votes is eliminated. Their votes are then transferred based on the second preferences marked. This process continues until a candidate reaches the required quota and is declared elected.
Once the counting is completed, the Returning Officer announces the result, and the government publishes the winner’s name in the Official Gazette.
