The sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2025, citing health reasons, has set the stage for a new election and intense speculation regarding his successor. Sources suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to nominate a candidate deeply rooted in the party's ideology for the position. The election is expected to be held promptly, with the Election Commission of India already initiating preparations and likely to announce the schedule within the next 48 to 72 hours. A new Vice President is anticipated to be in office by the end of August 2025.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a comfortable majority in the electoral college, comprising members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, making their nominee the frontrunner. The NDA currently has 422 MPs. The Vice President is elected by an Electoral College consisting of all members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha; they are free to vote as they wish and are not bound by party whip. For nomination, 20 electors and 20 seconders are needed.

Several names are circulating as potential candidates. A prominent contender is Ram Nath Thakur, the current Minister of State for Agriculture and son of the late Karpoori Thakur, a Bharat Ratna recipient and former Chief Minister of Bihar. Thakur belongs to the Nai (barber) community, classified under the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) category, which constitutes a significant portion of Bihar's population. His candidacy is seen as a strategic move to appeal to EBC voters, especially with the upcoming assembly polls in Bihar.

Other potential candidates include Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, a Janata Dal (United) MP. Harivansh is considered a trusted ally of the government and has been serving as the Deputy Chairman since 2020. BJP President JP Nadda is also a strong contender, although his selection might lead to a cabinet reshuffle. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, and former Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are also being discussed.

Speculation had briefly surrounded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, but his party leaders have downplayed the possibility. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's name has also surfaced, though without official backing.

The BJP seems inclined to nominate someone with a solid party background and a non-controversial profile. The party may also consider a state governor or a senior Union minister with parliamentary experience. The focus appears to be on a candidate from a backward community.

The opposition INDIA bloc is expected to meet and collectively decide on their approach for the Vice President election. While the numbers favor the NDA, the opposition is likely to field a candidate, as they did in the 2017 and 2022 elections. In the 2022 election, the opposition fielded Margaret Alva against Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The Election Commission is bound by Article 68(2) of the Constitution to conduct the election "as soon as possible" after the Vice President's resignation. The election process, including nominations, scrutiny, withdrawals, polling, and counting, must be completed within a maximum of 32 days after the formal notification.

Jagdeep Dhankhar's tenure as Vice President, which began in August 2022, was marked by frequent interactions with opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha. He resigned nearly two years before the scheduled end of his term.