EC sets September 9 as date for Vice Presidential poll after Dhankhar’s surprise exit

“As per Rule 8 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974, poll for the election will be taken in the Parliament House. The polling, if required, shall take place at Room No. F-101, Vasudha, First Floor, Parliament House, New Delhi,” the EC said in its press release. The EC had appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody as the Returning Officer for the election on July 25.

The electoral college for the election will comprise 782 members of Parliament – 233 elected members of Rajya Sabha (five seats are currently vacant), 12 nominated members of Rajya Sabha and 542 elected members of the Lok Sabha (one seat is vacant), the EC said.

Voting is held by secret ballot, using the system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote. Each MP casts a vote by ranking candidates in order of preference. All votes carry equal value.

To be declared elected, a candidate must reach a required minimum number of votes — called the quota. This is calculated by dividing the total number of valid votes by two and adding one (fractions, if any, are ignored). If no candidate crosses the quota in the first round, the one with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the remaining candidates based on second preferences. The process continues until one candidate crosses the quota.

Dhankhar’s surprise resignation came just hours after he presided over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. He submitted his letter to resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, citing health reasons.

While the government and BJP have remained quiet over the episode, sources say the government was taken aback by his decision to accept an Opposition-backed impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma even as the BJP was planning on bringing one in the Lok Sabha.

The Home Ministry notified his resignation on July 22 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X: “Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health.”