Vice President’s Chair Vacant: Can Opposition Challenge NDA’s Numerical Dominance?

New Delhi: The sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening has triggered a flurry of political activity in New Delhi, leaving leaders from both the ruling alliance and the Opposition scrambling to respond. Citing health reasons, Dhankhar submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, stepping down less than halfway through his five-year term.

While the official reason given was deteriorating health, political circles are abuzz with speculation about underlying tensions. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have hinted that Dhankhar’s departure may be linked to internal frictions within the BJP-led NDA. His absence during the second round of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, and reports of high-level BJP leaders skipping meetings chaired by him, have only added to the intrigue.

As per Clause (2) of Article 68 of the Constitution, the election to fill the Vice President’s office must be held “as soon as possible”. The Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule within days. Until then, the post of Rajya Sabha Chairperson will remain vacant, creating a procedural gap in the Upper House of Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

NDA Holds Advantage — But Opposition May Surprise

Despite the political buzz, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a clear numerical advantage. With 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 133 in the Rajya Sabha, the NDA controls a total of 426 votes in the Electoral College. This count is well above the majority needed to elect their nominee — even without cross-voting.

This was evident during the 2022 Vice Presidential election, when Dhankhar — then NDA’s candidate — secured 528 votes, defeating Opposition nominee Margaret Alva, who received just 182. The margin was the highest in over three decades, indicating substantial cross-party support.

However, the sudden vacancy has left both camps with little time to build consensus. The ruling party has remained tight-lipped about its likely nominee, though insiders suggest that the candidate may be someone with legal and legislative experience. Some speculate that the BJP may consider fielding a southern leader or a candidate from an OBC background to expand its appeal ahead of upcoming state elections.

Opposition Criticism and Speculation

The Opposition, meanwhile, is trying to seize the moment. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh posted on X (formerly Twitter) questioning the timing and circumstances of Dhankhar’s resignation. Without directly naming BJP leaders, Ramesh claimed that Dhankhar was often “ignored” and that his principled stand on institutional integrity may have cost him the support of the establishment.

In his words, “To the extent possible under the current ruling regime, Dhankhar tried to accommodate the Opposition. He was a stickler for protocol and believed in norms, which were being increasingly undermined.”

The Congress and its INDIA bloc allies have not yet revealed if they plan to field a joint candidate. However, party sources indicate they may do so as a symbolic challenge, regardless of the outcome.

What Next?

Once the Election Commission of India announces the schedule, nominations will be invited and an election will be held via secret ballot using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. All elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament are eligible to vote.

As the process unfolds in the coming days, all eyes will remain on the BJP’s choice, the Opposition’s strategy, and whether Dhankhar’s exit has larger political implications than what has been publicly acknowledged.