Who will be India's next vice president? Key appointments made for election to second-highest office

The Election Commission of India has appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody as the returning officer for vice presidential polls, kicking off the process for election to the second-highest office in the country.

 

In a release on Friday,  the poll body said, "The Election Commission, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Hon’ble Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, has appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, as Returning Officer for the ensuing Vice Presidential Election, 2025."

 

The Commission has also appointed Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat and Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as assistant returning officers.

 

The polls were necessitated following the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the vice president post on July 21. The former vice president submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. 

 

Dhankhar's departure from office surprised many, with opposition accusing the  Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre of forcing him to resign. Dhankar cited health reasons for his sudden resignation. 

 

However, sources in the know of developments say the Union government was unhappy with Dhankhar's move to initiate an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma over the discovery of cash at his residence. Dhankhar reportedly acknowledged receiving an impeachment motion moved by the opposition against the judge.

 

The Centre was unhappy with the move as it was planning to introduce the motion in the Lok Sabha. Two Union ministers, J.P.Nadda and Kiren Rijuju, skipped the Business Advisory Committee conducted by the former vice president on July 21. The ministers also reportedly informed  Dhankhar of their disapproval and that the prime minister was unhappy with his actions. 

 

Speculations are abuzz that the BJP is planning to field a person from within the party for the polls. The ruling party is also mulling fielding a woman for the polls. 

India