BJP’s Parliamentary board meeting is underway at the party headquarters in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at the BJP headquarters in the national capital. According to ANI, discussions can likely include the NDA’s candidate for the Vice-Presidential elections.
Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down as Vice President of India on July 21, citing health concerns. His term was supposed to continue until August 2027. The election to choose his successor will be held on 9 September, and nominations for it have to be filed till August 21. This will be the 17th Vice Presidential election in India.
Dhankhar’s sudden resignation has triggered speculation about his possible successor. Since he earlier served as Governor of West Bengal, many expect the new Vice President could be another former governor, a senior BJP leader or a Union minister.
BJP’s probable nominees
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a clear majority in the electoral college, making its nominee the frontrunner for the Vice President’s post. Currently, the combined strength of both Houses stands at 782 members, and a candidate needs at least 392 votes to secure victory, assuming full participation in the poll.
The BJP has started internal discussions on possible names. Some of the leading contenders include Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.
Other names being considered are Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, Sikkim Governor Om Mathur and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Seshadri Chari, a senior RSS leader, and Harivansh, the current Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, are also in the mix. In the last month, several governors and lieutenant governors have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has authorised PM Modi and BJP chief JP Nadda to select the official nominee for the Vice Presidential election.
Rules for vice presidential election
According to the Constitution, anyone contesting the Vice President’s post must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old and eligible to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha. They also cannot hold any office of profit under the central or state governments or any local authority.
In the Vice Presidential election, the electorate consists of all Members of Parliament from both Houses. The voting is held through a proportional representation system with a single transferable vote and MPs cast their ballots in secrecy.