Race begins for new Vice President after Dhankhar's sudden resignation

With the formal acceptance of Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation from the post of Vice President of India, the country is set to enter a crucial phase of political maneuvering.

The process to elect the next Vice President has officially begun, with the Constitution mandating that a successor must be elected within 60 days of the resignation.

As per Articles 63 to 71 of the Indian Constitution, the election will be conducted through a proportional representation system by means of a single transferable vote, with voting done via secret ballot.

The electoral college for this high constitutional office comprises all members of both Houses of Parliament elected and nominated , a total of 788 MPs, with 543 elected members in the Lok Sabha and 245 in the Rajya Sabha.

Political speculations heat up

In the absence of an incumbent, the field is wide open, and political speculation is rife. The BJP-led NDA, which commands a comfortable majority in the electoral college, is expected to play a decisive role in selecting the new Vice President.

However, with coalition politics continuing to influence decision-making, many political commentators suggest that the ruling party may use the opportunity to further consolidate alliances, especially with key regional parties like Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

One name that may emerge is that of Harivansh Singh, the current Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a JD(U) MP who has served in the role since 2020.

A seasoned parliamentarian and seen as a trusted ally of the Modi government, Harivansh's elevation would not only strengthen ties with JD(U), but also send a signal of inclusiveness within the NDA fold.

Others believe the BJP may prefer to stick to its ideological roots and choose someone closely associated with the RSS, whose headquarters in Nagpur has long served as a barometer for high-level appointments in the BJP.

The appointment of Jagdeep Dhankhar himself in 2022, a Jat leader from Rajasthan, was viewed as part of a strategic caste and regional balancing act. A similar calculus is likely this time.

Will the Opposition Field a Candidate?

While the NDA is numerically poised to push through its candidate without much resistance, the Opposition bloc faces the question of whether to contest the election symbolically or concede the field.

During the 2022 Vice Presidential election, despite the NDA’s dominance, the Opposition had fielded senior Congress leader Margaret Alva in a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful bid.

The question now is whether the INDIA bloc, still in search of a cohesive strategy after its underwhelming performance in the 2024 general elections, will once again throw its hat in the ring.