New Delhi, August 1: The Election Commission has announced that the election for the post of Vice President of India will be held on September 9. The official notification for the election will be issued on August 7, and the last date for filing nominations is August 21.
As per agency report, if voting becomes necessary, it will take place on September 9 between 10 am and 5 pm in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, on the first floor of Parliament House. The results will also be declared on the same day.
The Vice President’s post became vacant on July 21 following the resignation of incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Election Commission has appointed the Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha as the Returning Officer for the election and two officers from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat as Assistant Returning Officers.
The Electoral College for the Vice Presidential election consists of members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are also eligible to vote in this election. The Electoral College currently includes 233 elected members and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha, along with 543 members of the Lok Sabha.
With five seats vacant in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha, the total strength of the Electoral College stands at 782. A candidate would need at least 391 votes to secure a majority, assuming all eligible voters cast their vote.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is seen to have an advantage in the upcoming election. Of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, one—Bashirhat in West Bengal—is currently vacant. Among the five vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha, four are from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Punjab.
Within the Lok Sabha, the NDA led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enjoys the support of 293 out of 542 members. In the Rajya Sabha, which currently has 240 effective members, the ruling alliance is supported by 129 members, provided all nominated members vote in its favour. This brings the NDA’s total support to 422 members in the Electoral College.
To be eligible for election as Vice President, a candidate must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years of age, and qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
