Poll to elect new V-P likely during monsoon session

Notification for the election to Vice-President’s post is likely to be issued within a week as the government is keen to hold the exercise before the culmination of the ongoing monsoon session on August 21, sources aware of the developments said on Thursday.

A source indicated that the notification might be issued in the next three to four days.

RS bids farewell to six members

• On the fourth day of the monsoon session, Rajya Sabha bid farewell to six MPs from Tamil Nadu, who completed their terms on Thursday. Rajya Sabha members across parties appreciated their contribution towards strengthening democratic traditions in the country.
• One of the retiring MPs, P Wilson of the DMK, has been re-elected to the Upper House.

The ruling NDA has not dropped any hints about the selection of a candidate for the post, INDIA bloc is likely to go for a common candidate. Sources within the Opposition said the numbers were not overwhelmingly stacked against the opposition despite the NDA’s majority. The effective strength of both the Houses together is 782 and the winning candidate will require to win 392 votes in the election for the vice president, considering all eligible voters exercise their franchise.

Extra — All members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including the nominated ones, vote in the vice-presidential poll.

In Lok Sabha, while the BJP-led NDA enjoys the support of 293 members in the 542-member House, the INDIA bloc has 234 members. The ruling alliance has the support of about 130 members in Rajya Sabha, that has an effective strength of 240, assuming that the nominated members vote in support of the the NDA nominee. The INDIA bloc has the support of 79 members in the Upper House. Effectively, the NDA has 423 members and the INDIA bloc has 313 members in Parliament, the remaining ones being non-aligned.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has started the preparations to conduct elections for the post. “The Election Commission has already started the preparations for the Vice-Presidential elections. The schedule will be announced after the completion of preparatory activities,” it had said in a statement on July 23. The poll body, under Article 324, is mandated to conduct the election to the office of the Vice President of India. This election is governed by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, and the rules made thereunder, namely the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.