Election for Vice President Scheduled for September 9

Announcement of Vice Presidential Election

The election for the Vice President is set to take place on September 9, as announced by the Election Commission on Friday. According to the commission, the notification for the election will be issued on August 7, with the deadline for submitting nomination papers being August 21.

Voting Process and Results

Should voting be necessary, it will occur on September 9 from 10 AM to 5 PM in Room F-101, Vasudha, located on the first floor of the Parliament House. The results will also be declared on the same day.

Vacancy Due to Resignation

The position of Vice President became vacant following the resignation of the incumbent, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on July 21. The Election Commission has appointed the Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha as the election officer, along with two officials from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat as assistant election officers.

Composition of the Electoral College

The electoral college for the Vice Presidential election comprises members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are also eligible to vote in this election.

Effective Number of Votes Required

The electoral college consists of 233 elected members from the Rajya Sabha, 12 nominated members, and 543 members from the Lok Sabha. With one seat vacant in the Lok Sabha and five in the Rajya Sabha, the effective strength of the electoral college stands at 782, requiring 391 votes for a candidate to win, assuming all eligible voters participate.

Current Political Landscape

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to have an advantage in the upcoming election. In the Lok Sabha, one seat from West Bengal's Bashirhat is currently vacant, while five seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha are unoccupied, four from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Punjab.

Support for the Ruling Coalition

The NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has the backing of 293 out of 542 members in the Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, with an effective membership of 240, the coalition has support from 129 members, provided that the nominated members vote in favor of the NDA candidate.

Eligibility Criteria for Vice President

To be elected as Vice President, a candidate must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, and eligible to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.