Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on Monday night, creating a rare mid-term vacancy in India’s second-highest constitutional office. He is the third Vice-President to resign before completing his term, following V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman, who stepped down to contest presidential elections and were succeeded by Gopal Swarup Pathak and Shankar Dayal Sharma, respectively.

Who performs the Vice-President’s duties now?

The Constitution does not provide for an acting Vice-President. However, as the Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairman, currently Harivansh Narayan Singh, will preside over the Rajya Sabha in the Vice-President’s absence.

When will the election be held?

• Unlike the President, where the Constitution mandates filling a vacancy within six months, there is no fixed deadline for a Vice-Presidential election. The Constitution requires the election to be held “as soon as possible.” The Election Commission will announce the schedule, and the poll will be conducted under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. Conventionally, the Secretary General of either House of Parliament is appointed as the Returning Officer, in rotation.

How long will the new Vice-President serve?

• The elected Vice-President will serve a full five-year term from the date of assuming office, not merely the remainder of Dhankhar’s tenure.

How is a new Vice-President elected?

• The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college comprising members of both Houses of Parliament—Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members. State legislatures do not participate, unlike in presidential elections. Voting occurs in Parliament House, New Delhi, by secret ballot, using proportional representation with a single transferable vote. Each MP ranks candidates by preference, with all votes carrying equal value.
• A candidate must secure a minimum quota of votes, calculated by dividing the total valid votes by two and adding one (ignoring fractions). If no candidate meets the quota in the first round, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on second preferences. This continues until a candidate surpasses the quota.

What are the eligibility criteria for candidates?

A Vice-Presidential candidate must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old, qualified for election to the Rajya Sabha, and registered as an elector in any parliamentary constituency. They must not hold any office of profit under the central or state governments, except roles like President, Governor, or Minister.

Jagdeep Dhankhar Becomes the 3rd Vice President to Resign Mid-Term

Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday became the third Vice President of India to resign mid-term, marking a rare event in the history of Indian constitutional offices.

Historical Precedents of Vice Presidential Resignations

1. V. V. Giri (1969)

• Vice President V. V. Giri resigned on July 2, 1969, after assuming the role of Acting President following the death of President Zakir Hussain on May 3, 1969.
• Giri quit his post to contest the presidential election as an independent candidate, making him the first Vice President to not complete his term.

2. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (2007)

• Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat resigned on July 21, 2007, after his defeat in the presidential election against Congress-led UPA candidate Pratibha Patil.
• The Vice President’s post remained vacant for 21 days, until Mohammad Hamid Ansari was elected as his successor.

Other Notable Cases

• Venkataraman, Shankar Dayal Sharma, and K. R. Narayanan also resigned from the post of Vice President, but only after being elected as the President of India.
• Krishan Kant remains the only Vice President to die in office, passing away on July 27, 2002.