Election Process Of The Vice-President Of India
The resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice-President in 2025 has renewed public interest in the election process of this constitutional office. The Vice-President is elected through an indirect election by an Electoral College consisting solely of members of both Houses of Parliament.
Electoral College and Voting System
The Vice-President is elected by an Electoral College made up of elected and nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Unlike the Presidential election, state legislative assemblies do not participate. Voting is secret and uses the single transferable vote (STV) system. Members rank candidates in order of preference. A candidate must secure a quota of votes calculated as half of the valid votes plus one to win.
Eligibility Criteria for Candidates
To stand for Vice-President, a candidate must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old, and qualified to be a member of the Rajya Sabha. They must not hold any office of profit under the government. The Election Commission of India supervises the entire election process to ensure fairness and transparency.
Term and Continuity in Office
The Vice-President serves a term of five years. However, the incumbent continues in office until a successor is elected. This provision ensures no vacancy occurs in the post. The Vice-President can resign before completing the term, as seen in the case of Jagdeep Dhankhar and two earlier Vice-Presidents.
Re-Election and Multiple Terms
There is no constitutional bar on a former Vice-President contesting again. A person can serve multiple terms if re-elected. This means a former Vice-President can contest immediately after their term or after a gap. The election process remains the same regardless of prior tenure.
Historical Instances of Resignation
Jagdeep Dhankhar is the third Vice-President to resign before term completion. VV Giri resigned in 1969 to contest the Presidential election after the death of President Zakir Husain. R Venkataraman resigned in 1987 after being elected President. These resignations triggered elections for their successors.
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