Jagdeep Dhankhar, the now-former Vice President of India, shocked the political spectrum on Monday evening when he tendered his resignation, citing medical reasons. In an official communication addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar requested his resignation be accepted with immediate effect. Just two days after his exit, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that it has initiated the formal process to conduct the Vice Presidential elections 2025, a move that has now set the stage for the next high-stakes constitutional appointment in the country.

Resignation and Its Immediate Fallout

Dhankhar’s resignation took the nation by surprise. While he cited health issues, political observers have noted that the timing of his decision is significant, coming amidst increasing political activity ahead of several state elections and internal reshuffling within alliances. The Vice President of India is not only the second-highest constitutional post but also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

The Election Commission, invoking its authority under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, has now moved swiftly into action. According to a press note issued on Wednesday, the Commission stated:

“The Election Commission of India has already started the preparations relating to the Vice-Presidential Elections, 2025. On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the Election Schedule will follow as soon as possible.”

Key Election Preparations by ECI

The Election Commission of India is mandated by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Rules, 1974, to conduct the election for the office of the Vice President. The Commission has initiated three major preparatory steps:

• Compilation of the Electoral College: This comprises both elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

• Finalisation of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for conducting and supervising the election process.

• Background research and compilation of historical material and statistics from previous Vice Presidential elections to ensure accuracy and compliance.

These preparatory actions are crucial to maintaining transparency, credibility, and adherence to constitutional norms in the electoral process.

Political Equation: NDA vs INDIA Bloc

With the electoral college set to consist solely of Members of Parliament (MPs), the numerical strength of the different alliances becomes the focal point. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) currently holds:

• 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha

• 133 MPs in the Rajya Sabha

This gives them a combined strength of 426 MPs, which is more than enough to secure a win for their Vice Presidential candidate, assuming internal cohesion and no major defection. It's important to note that in Dhankhar’s previous election, cross-voting from opposition benches had played a key role in securing his victory. This time too, such cross-voting trends could influence the outcome, although NDA’s current majority gives them a clear advantage.

On the other side, the INDIA bloc, an alliance of opposition parties formed to present a united front against the BJP-led NDA, will have to carefully select a strong and widely accepted candidate to prevent defections and garner maximum support. Their efforts will hinge on strategic political negotiations, intra-bloc coordination, and public messaging.

Legal and Procedural Background

As per Indian constitutional norms:

• The Vice President is elected through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

• Unlike the President, the electoral college for Vice Presidential elections does not include members of State Legislative Assemblies; only Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, both elected and nominated, participate in the voting process.

• The Returning Officer, once appointed, will supervise the nomination, scrutiny, polling, counting, and declaration of results.

Historical Significance and Precedents

The post of Vice President of India has historically played a stabilising role in India’s parliamentary democracy. Previous Vice Presidents like Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Shankar Dayal Sharma, Hamid Ansari, and M. Venkaiah Naidu have contributed significantly to parliamentary debates and maintaining decorum in the Rajya Sabha.

Jagdeep Dhankhar, who assumed office on August 11, 2022, after defeating opposition candidate Margaret Alva, served for nearly three years before stepping down. His tenure saw sharp debates in the Upper House and an active role in upholding parliamentary practices, albeit occasionally marked by controversies over neutrality and assertive conduct during sessions.

Speculation Around Successors

With the election process now activated, all eyes are on potential candidates from both the NDA and INDIA blocs. While no official names have been floated so far, several senior parliamentarians and legal experts are being considered. The NDA is expected to nominate a candidate who enjoys strong support within the alliance and a clean image. The INDIA bloc, on the other hand, will look for a candidate who can symbolise unity and resistance, especially with an eye on the 2026 general elections.

Timeline and Next Steps

The Election Commission has not yet released the official schedule for the Vice Presidential polls. However, based on past precedent, the entire process—from announcement to polling and counting—typically takes around 30-35 days. Once the preparatory phase is completed, the ECI is expected to:

• Publish the election notification in the Gazette.

• Open the nomination process.

• Conduct scrutiny and allow for withdrawal of nominations.

• Hold polling on a single day, with results announced within hours of polling conclusion.

Broader Implications for Indian Politics

This Vice Presidential election could become a symbolic battleground between the two leading national coalitions, even though it is technically a non-partisan and constitutional process. For the NDA, it is an opportunity to demonstrate unity and legislative strength. For the INDIA bloc, it is a chance to test their cohesion and strategic depth before heading into other key electoral battles.

The resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar due to medical reasons, while unfortunate, opens a constitutional process that holds significance for the functioning of Parliament, especially the Rajya Sabha. The Vice President election 2025 is now officially underway, and the next few weeks will be crucial in shaping India’s legislative leadership at the highest level.

As the nation awaits the election schedule and official candidate announcements, one thing is clear: the process to elect the next Vice President of India will be closely watched, highly contested, and politically consequential.

Stay tuned for the latest Jagdeep Dhankhar resignation news, the Vice President election 2025, and how the NDA vs INDIA bloc dynamics unfold in the coming days.

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