Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned from his position, citing health concerns and the need to prioritize medical advice. Dhankhar, who assumed office in 2022, was originally set to serve a five-year term ending in 2027. His resignation triggers the process for electing a new vice president.
Constitutional Procedure
The Election Commission is responsible for initiating the election process to fill the vacancy. As per the Constitution, the election should be held as soon as possible. Article 66 of the Constitution outlines the process.
The Electoral College
The Vice President is not directly elected by the people. Instead, they are elected by an electoral college. This electoral college consists of the members of both Houses of Parliament: the Lok Sabha (lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (upper house). This includes both elected and nominated members. The members of state legislative assemblies are not part of the electoral college for the vice-presidential election.
Election Process
The election is conducted using a system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote, and voting is done through a secret ballot. The Election Commission of India oversees the entire process. The notification for the election can be issued on or after the 60th day before the expiry of the term of the outgoing Vice-President. The election schedule is set to ensure that the new Vice President can assume office immediately after the previous term ends.
To nominate a candidate, at least 20 members of Parliament must propose the candidate's name, and another 20 must second the nomination. Each candidate is also required to make a security deposit with the Reserve Bank of India.
In the election, voters mark their preferences on the ballot paper. They rank the candidates in order of preference by writing 1, 2, 3, and so on, next to the names of the candidates. This allows voters to indicate their second, third, or subsequent choices if their first preference candidate is not elected.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the office of Vice President, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
Role of the Vice President
The Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. In this role, the Vice President is responsible for maintaining order and decorum in the House and for conducting its proceedings.
The Vice President also steps in as acting President if the President is unable to discharge their functions due to resignation, death, removal, or any other reason. The Vice President serves as acting President until a new President is elected.
What Happens Until a New Vice President is Elected?
In the interim period, the duties of the Vice President, specifically as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, will need to be managed. The Rajya Sabha typically has a Deputy Chairman who can preside over the House in the absence of the Chairman. However, in the absence of both Chairman and Deputy Chairman, a member from a panel of Vice-Chairpersons nominated by the Chairman can preside over the House.
The resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar necessitates swift action to elect a new Vice President. The Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule soon, setting the stage for political parties to nominate their candidates and for the electoral college to cast their votes. The upcoming election will be a crucial event in determining the leadership of the Rajya Sabha and the second-highest constitutional office in the country.
