India is preparing for an important vice-presidential election following the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. Dhankhar stepped down from the post citing health reasons, creating a vacancy in the second-highest constitutional office in the country. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has nominated Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as their candidate. His nomination was officially announced by BJP chief JP Nadda after the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting on August 18.
On the other hand, the opposition bloc INDIA has chosen former Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy as its candidate. Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge made this announcement on behalf of the alliance. The voting for the vice-president’s election will take place from 10 am to 5 pm on the designated day. All members of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha make up the electoral college. The votes will be counted at 6 pm on the same day to determine the winner.
Currently, there are 239 Rajya Sabha members and 542 Lok Sabha members, making a total of 781 eligible voters. However, this number has decreased to 770 because two parties, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), have decided to abstain from voting. BRS, led by K Chandrashekar Rao, has four members in the Rajya Sabha, while BJD, led by Naveen Patnaik, has seven. Neither party has members in the Lok Sabha.
The NDA has 293 members in the Lok Sabha and 133 in the Rajya Sabha, totaling 426 lawmakers. This is enough to secure the election of their candidate for vice president, though cross-voting could increase the margin further, similar to what happened in the previous Dhankhar election.
The Vice President of India holds the second-highest constitutional position in the country and has two main responsibilities: legislative and executive. In the legislative domain, the vice-president serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. As the presiding officer, the vice-president’s job is to ensure that proceedings are conducted smoothly, orderly, and respectfully.
While serving as Chairman, the vice-president must remain neutral and impartial. They cannot vote on issues except in the case of a tie. When there is a tie, the vice-president has the right to cast a vote, known as the casting vote, to decide the outcome. This ensures that decisions in the Rajya Sabha can be made even when members are equally divided on a matter.
The vice-president’s legislative role is crucial for maintaining decorum and ensuring that debates, discussions, and law-making processes proceed effectively. Their impartiality helps prevent bias and maintains the trust of all members in the house. In the absence of the vice-president, the Deputy Chairman takes over the responsibilities of conducting the house proceedings.
The executive responsibilities of the vice-president are primarily linked to the President of India. Under Article 65 of the Constitution, the vice-president can temporarily perform the duties of the president in case of a vacancy caused by the president’s death, resignation, removal, or illness. This temporary arrangement lasts for a maximum of six months, during which a new president must be elected.
When the vice-president assumes the president’s duties, they pause their legislative role as the Rajya Sabha Chairman. The Deputy Chairman then handles all parliamentary functions to ensure the smooth running of the upper house during this period. The vice-president’s role as acting president is vital because it ensures continuity in governance and prevents any constitutional vacuum at the topmost level of the executive.
Apart from these two formal responsibilities, the vice-president may also represent India at official functions, engage in diplomatic interactions, and support the president in administrative duties. While the position does not have direct policymaking powers, the vice-president’s constitutional and ceremonial roles are essential for the balance and functioning of India’s parliamentary system.
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The election of the vice-president is closely watched because it reflects the strength and strategy of political parties in both houses of Parliament. Cross-voting, party alliances, and member abstentions can significantly influence the outcome, as seen in previous elections. The current vote count indicates that the NDA-backed candidate CP Radhakrishnan has a clear advantage, but the final results will depend on the actual voting day.
In conclusion, the Vice President of India plays a dual role in the parliamentary system. As Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, they ensure smooth legislative proceedings and maintain impartiality in debates. In executive matters, they step in as acting president when needed, ensuring the continuity of governance. The office combines ceremonial, legislative, and constitutional responsibilities, making it a pivotal position in India’s political and administrative framework.
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