Nominations begin for V-P poll; Modi, Nadda get powers to pick NDA face

The Centre on Thursday issued the notification for the election to the post of Vice-President, slated for September 9.

This came as floor leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution authorising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and BJP chief and Union Minister JP Nadda to choose the alliance candidate.

The election has been necessitated by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation from the post on July 21 citing health reasons, though indications have emerged of a fallout between him and the government.

As per the notification, the nominations can be filed till August 21 and the scrutiny will take place on August 22. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is August 25.

Members of both Houses, having a total strength of 788, are eligible to vote in the election, with the ruling NDA having a comfortable edge.

The 543-member Lok Sabha has one vacant seat — Basirhat in West Bengal —while the 245-member Rajya Sabha has six — four in Jammu and Kashmir, and one each in Punjab and Jharkhand. The seat from Punjab was vacated after AAP leader Sanjeev Arora quit following his election to the Assembly in a bypoll in June.

With an effective strength of 781 in both Houses, the winning candidate will require 391 votes, considering that all eligible voters exercise their franchise.

The BJP-led NDA enjoys the support of 293 in the 542-member Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha having an effective strength of 239. Assuming that the nominated members vote in support of the NDA nominee, the ruling alliance has the support of 422 members in both Houses.

Article 66 (1) of the Constitution provides that the vice-presidential election shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

In this system, the elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates. Dhankhar’s tenure was to end in August 2027. According to constitutional provisions, in case of a mid-term poll, the incumbent gets a full five-year term.

A person is also not eligible if he holds any office of profit under the Central or state governments or any subordinate local authority.