VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns: All you need to know about election process

To be eligible for the post of Vice President, a person must be an Indian citizen. They should be at least 35 years old. They must also be eligible for election to the Rajya Sabha. W

New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has stepped down from his position because of health issues. He sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu explaining his decision, and his resignation is expected to be accepted based on Article 67 (A) of the Constitution.

This happens just as the monsoon session of Parliament has begun. Since the Vice President also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the vacancy in this role is especially important for the functioning of Parliament. Now people are wondering how the Vice President is chosen and who is involved in the process.

To be eligible for the post of Vice President, a person must be an Indian citizen. They should be at least 35 years old. They must also be eligible for election to the Rajya Sabha. When they submit their nomination, they have to pay a security deposit of ₹15,000. If they don’t get at least one-sixth of the total valid votes, this money is lost.

Who votes for the Vice President?

All elected and nominated members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha take part in the election.

Number of Lok Sabha members: 543
Number of Rajya Sabha members: 245 (including 12 nominated members)
Total number of voters: 788 Members of Parliament

How is the election conducted?

The Vice President is chosen through the single transferable vote system under the proportional representation method.
Each MP gives one vote, and they assign points to the candidates in order of their preference, like 1, 2, 3. If a candidate does not reach the required number of votes, the second preference is considered. This process continues until someone gets the required quota of votes.

The voting is secret, and there is no party whip. This means that MPs can vote for any candidate they want without pressure.

What happens after someone is elected?

If a person is elected Vice President while still being a member of Parliament or a State Legislative Assembly, their membership in that body ends immediately once they take office.

When will the new election take place?

According to the Constitution, a new Vice President must be appointed within six months of the vacancy by holding an election.