Jagdeep Dhankhar’s exit: Preparations underway for election of next Vice President, says EC

Election Commission

Two days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post of Vice President, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday issued a statement saying the process for the election of next Vice President has been initiated and the formal notification of the election schedule will be released soon

"Election Commission of India starts preparations relating to the Vice-Presidential Elections, 2025. On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the Election Schedule to the office of the Vice-President of India will follow as soon as possible," read a statement by the EC.

The EC, in its press note dated July 23, noted that the home ministry has duly notified Dhankhar's resignation. “Accordingly, [the EC] 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,” it said.

It listed some pre-announcement activities that have been started, such as preparation of the electoral college that consists of elected as well as nominated members of Parliament, and the finalisation of the returning officers.

Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution and the Vice-President (Election) Rules, 1974, govern the vice president's election process. According to the rules, a formal election must be held within 60 days of Dhankhar's resignation and before September 19, 2025.

The electorate or the electoral college comprises all members of both Houses of Parliament, using a proportional representation system via single transferable vote. The MPs will cast a single transferable vote with a secret ballot. The electoral college currently has 788 MPs- 588 in Lok Sabha and 245 in Rajya Sabha.