India Gears Up for New Vice President Election as Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns

India is set to elect a new Vice President following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21. His departure, just three years into a term that was slated to end in 2027, has initiated a search for his successor.

In the interim, Harivansh Narayan Singh, the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, has temporarily assumed the role of Chairman for the Upper House. This arrangement is constitutionally empowered by Article 91, ensuring the duties of the Rajya Sabha Chairman continue until a new Vice President is elected. The Election Commission of India announced that the election to pick the next Vice President will be held on September 9. The election process, governed by Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution and the Vice-President (Election) Rules, 1974, must conclude within 60 days of the vacancy, meaning before September 19, 2025.

The electoral college comprises all 788 members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, who will cast a single transferable vote via a secret ballot under a proportional representation system. This will mark the first Vice Presidential poll to be held in the new Parliament building. The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a majority in the electoral college, suggesting a "solid choice" who is "non-controversial" will likely be preferred.

 Possible candidates include former governors, seasoned organisational leaders, or current Union ministers, with Harivansh himself also being considered. This development also coincides with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s process of electing its new national president.