Vice President Polls 2022: Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh cast vote

India's Vice Presidential polling began, on Saturday, at 10 am, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being among the first ones to cast vote.

The polling continued till 5 pm, following which the counting of ballots is taking place.

NDA nominee and former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar (71) has a definite advantage over his opponent Margaret Alva (80), as the BJP which is in power, has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and 91 members in the Rajya Sabha. On August 10, incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu's term will come to an end. He is expected to succeed him.


Dhankhar is likely to succeed incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu, whose tenure ends on August 10.

Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were among the leaders who turned up early at the Parliament House.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president J P Nadda, and Commerce Minister and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal arrived together to cast their vote.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, BJP chief whip Rakesh Singh, Telangana Rashtra Samithi MPs and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party's Raghu Rama Krishna Raju vote were among the others that have cast their vote so far.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in a wheelchair and needed support to stand up and vote.
CPM MP John Brittas was among those who helped the veteran leader in exercising his franchise. The two-term prime minister greeted those present with folded hands.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee and former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar (71) is pitted against joint Opposition candidate Margaret Alva (80).

The vice presidential election is open to all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, including those who have been nominated.

The combined membership of the two Houses of Parliament is 788 MPs, of which there are eight vacancies in the Upper House. As a result, 780 MPs are qualified to vote in this election.

Inputs from PTI