Who will become the next Vice President of India after Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation?

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday resigned from his post citing "medical advice" and said he would "prioritise" his health. In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he said his resignation will be effective immediately.

"To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance wills Article 67(a) of the constitution," his letter read.

In the letter, he thanked the President "for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure".


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"I express my deep gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office," the letter read.

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Who will be become the next Vice President of India?

The election of the vice president is mainly governed by Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution and the Vice-President (Election) Rules, 1974. The Vice-President holds the second-highest constitutional position in the country, after the President.

With the post of vice president now vacant, the Election Commission will initiate the process to elect a new occupant for the office, as per TOI.

The Constitution mandates that the vacancy must be filled "as soon as possible."

Under Article 66, the vice president is elected by an 'electoral college' consisting solely of members of both Houses of Parliament -- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha -- via a 'secret ballot' and a proportional representation system using the single transferable vote.

Key eligibility criteria for a candidate -

• Must be a citizen of India.

• At least 35 years old.

• Eligible for election to the Rajya Sabha.

• Not hold any office of profit.

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Vice president's role

The vice president serves as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, responsible for maintaining order and procedure in the Rajya Sabha. However, the vice president is not a member of either house of the Parliament or of a legislature of any state.

The vice president also steps in as 'acting President' in case the sitting President is unable to fulfill duties due to resignation, death, or removal, until a new President is elected.

This sudden vacancy is likely to prompt swift political consultations across party lines, as the electoral college of 788 MPs (543 in Lok Sabha and 245 in Rajya Sabha) will soon be called upon to vote for a new vice resident.

The Election Commission is expected to issue a formal notification and timeline shortly.

(With TOI inputs)