VP election: Opposition MPs to participate in 'mock poll' today; NDA, INDIA bloc dinner meet called off amid floods across states

The post of Vice President fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons

Opposition MPs will on Monday be briefed about the procedure to vote in the September 9 vice presidential polls, sources in the INDIA bloc told PTI.

They said that thereafter a ‘mock poll’ would be held in the central hall of the Samvidhan Sadan at around 2:30 pm on Monday. This would be done after the MPs are briefed over the procedure.

Meanwhile, the sources also stated that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was to host a dinner for the opposition MPs on Monday evening, but that has been cancelled keeping in view the flood situation in many parts of the country.

The election, scheduled for September 9, will witness a direct contest between Justice (Retd.) B Sudershan Reddy, backed by the INDIA bloc, and the NDA's nominee, CP Radhakrishnan.

The post of Vice President fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons.

Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Monday deliver the valedictory address at the two-day Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workshop at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament complex.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Prime Miinister was scheduled to host a dinner for NDA MPs and BJP president JP Nadda was to host one for BJP MPs, both have been cancelled in view of the flood situation in Punjab and neighbouring areas.

The PM Modi was scheduled to host a dinner for NDA MPs on September 8, a day before the vice-presidential election.

The polling will commence at 10 am and close at 5 pm on September 9.

The VP is elected through an electoral college, which consists of MPs from both houses of Parliament. The election of the vice president is governed by the provisions under Articles 64 and 68 of the Constitution.

The Election Commission notifies the VP polls by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.