How Vice President of India elected: Explained

New Delhi: Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down from his post on Monday, leaving everyone surprised. His resignation came as a shock, as a few days ago, he had expressed his intention to complete his tenure at a public event.   

In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he said he was resigning due to health issues. Dhankhar’s term was scheduled to end in 2027, but his resignation came at the end of the first day of the Parliament’s Monsoon session. He presided over proceedings of the Rajya Sabha as Chairman on Monday. 

Dhankhar was elected as the 14th Vice President of India in August 2022. In his resignation, shared by the Vice President’s Office on X, he stated, “To prioritize head care and abide by medical care, I hereby resign as the Vice-President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.”

What does Article 67(a) of the Constitution say?       

Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution mentions the procedure for a Vice President’s resignation. Clause (a) allows for a voluntary resignation by writing a letter to the President. The Clause comes into effect as soon as the President receives the resignation letter. The Article removes any parliamentary or legal barriers, and the process is deemed complete once the President accepts it.  

Once the Vice President resigns, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha temporarily presides over the House’s proceedings until the Election Commission of India concludes the process of electing a new Vice-President.

How is the Vice President of India elected? 

The election process for the Vice President is different from that of the President. While the President is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament and state Assemblies, the Vice-President is elected solely by members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

To be eligible for contesting the election of the Vice President of India, a candidate must be an Indian citizen, be at least 35-year-old, be eligible for election to Rajya Sabha, and not hold any office of profit under the Central or state government.