New Delhi, August 7(HS): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued a notification for the upcoming Vice Presidential election, scheduled to be held on September 9, officially beginning the nomination process.The last date for filing nominations is August 21, with scrutiny set for August 22, and candidates can withdraw by August 25. This election follows Jagdeep Dhankhar's unexpected resignation, attributed to health issues, with his term initially slated to conclude in August 2027. Constitutional provisions dictate that mid-term elections grant the incumbent a full five-year term.

The Vice President is elected indirectly by an electoral college made up of elected and nominated members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The election follows the proportional representation system and employs a single transferable vote. All members of Parliament participate, voting through secret ballot without being bound by party directives. Unlike presidential elections, state legislative assemblies play no role in the vice presidential election.

Given the current strength of Parliament at 786 members, with six vacancies, 394 votes are needed to win. The NDA, with 293 MPs in Lok Sabha and 129 in Rajya Sabha, holds a combined strength of 422 votes, suggesting a strong likelihood of successfully electing their candidate.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar