India to Hold Vice Presidential Elections on September 9

India is gearing up for its vice presidential elections on September 9, following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health concerns. The Election Commission has outlined the election schedule, including key dates for nominations and withdrawals. With the electoral college comprising members from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, the political landscape is heating up as parties prepare to announce their candidates. Questions have arisen regarding the timing of Dhankhar's resignation, with opposition leaders hinting at deeper issues. Stay tuned for updates on this significant political event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2025, 13:47 IST

Upcoming Vice Presidential Elections

The Election Commission has announced that the elections to select India's next vice president will take place on September 9. This announcement was made on Friday.

The position became vacant following Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation on July 21, where he cited health concerns as the reason for his departure. Dhankhar had assumed office on August 11, 2022, and was set to serve until 2027.

In addition to being the vice president, the individual also serves as the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

The Election Commission revealed that the notification for the vice presidential election will be released on August 7, with the deadline for submitting nomination papers set for August 21.

Candidates will have until August 25 to withdraw their nominations, and the results will be declared on the same day as the election.

According to Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission is responsible for overseeing the vice-presidential election, which is regulated by the 1974 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules.

Once the election schedule is announced, the entire process must be completed within 30 to 32 days.

The vice president is elected by an electoral college comprising both elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Unlike presidential elections, state legislators do not participate in this voting.

Voting will occur in the Parliament building through a secret ballot, where MPs will rank their preferred candidates.

For the upcoming election, the electoral college will include 12 nominated members and 233 elected members from the Upper House, along with 543 Lok Sabha MPs.

As of now, neither the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance nor the Opposition INDIA bloc has announced their candidates.

Rajya Sabha Secretary General Pramod Chandra Mody will serve as the returning officer for the elections, with two assistant returning officers also appointed.

Following Dhankhar's resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his wishes for Dhankhar's health, acknowledging his contributions to the country in various roles.

Several opposition leaders have questioned the timing of Dhankhar's resignation, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh suggesting there may be deeper reasons behind the decision.

Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan noted that Dhankhar appeared to be in good health on the day of his resignation, raising doubts about the health-related claims.