Race for VP begins after Dhankhar’s sudden exit; EC sets September 9 poll date

In the wake of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation, the Election Commission on August 1 set the stage for the next political contest at the Centre, announcing September 9 as the date for the Vice Presidential election.

The shock move by Dhankhar — who stepped down just hours after chairing a Rajya Sabha session on July 21—has triggered an accelerated political calendar, with the EC scheduling the formal notification for August 7. Nominations will close on August 21, and polling, if required, will take place inside Parliament House on September 9.

The polling process will be conducted in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, on the first floor of the Parliament building, the EC said. Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody has been appointed as the Returning Officer.

The Vice Presidential election is conducted through a secret ballot, with all 782 Members of Parliament—233 elected Rajya Sabha MPs (five seats currently vacant), 12 nominated Rajya Sabha members, and 542 elected members of the Lok Sabha (one seat vacant) — forming the electoral college. Voting follows the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

Under this method, MPs rank candidates in order of preference. To win, a candidate must secure a quota — calculated as half the number of valid votes polled plus one. If no candidate crosses the quota in the first count, the least-favored candidate is eliminated and their votes redistributed based on second preferences. The process continues until a winner emerges.

A resignation that caught Delhi off guard

Dhankhar’s resignation was as abrupt as it was unexpected. It came on July 21, just hours after he presided over the Rajya Sabha proceedings. He cited “health reasons” in his letter to President Droupadi Murmu. The Home Ministry formally notified the resignation on July 22.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished him good health and praised his public service record on social media, the ruling establishment has otherwise maintained silence. However, sources indicate the resignation may have stemmed from mounting friction over parliamentary and judicial issues.

Top government officials were reportedly surprised by Dhankhar’s move to entertain an Opposition-backed impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma — even as the BJP was contemplating bringing its own in the Lok Sabha. The standoff appears to have pushed Dhankhar into a corner, prompting his resignation despite no visible political pressure.

Now, as parties quietly begin lobbying for the high constitutional post, attention turns to September 9, when MPs will cast their votes in one of the most politically sensitive elections of the year.