After the Dhankhar resignation: What (or who) comes next?

The sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from his role as vice-president of India — on 21 July, the very first day of the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament — has led to a political churn and a storm of speculation.

Opposition parties have demanded an explanation from the government. Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge went to the extent of saying, “We feel that daal mein kuch kaala hai (there is something fishy about it).”

Far deeper reasons for Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation as V-P: Congress

It is rare for a vice-president to resign mid-term. Rarer still for this to happen for reasons not related to elevation to President — V.V. Giri quit to take over as acting President following the death of Zakir Hussain in May 1969; R. Venkataraman resigned in 1987 after being chosen as the Congress party’s nominee to succeed President Giani Zail Singh.

With no provision for an acting vice-president, the pressure is now on the Election Commission of India to conduct polls “as soon as possible”, according to Article 63(2) of the Constitution.

On Wednesday, 23 July, the poll panel said it has begun the process and started constituting an electoral college comprising MPs of both Houses of Parliament, while also finalising returning officers for the vice-presidential election.

“On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the election schedule will follow,” the EC said.

In the normal course, however, such an election is held before the term of the incumbent expires. A person elected to fill the vacancy caused by death, resignation or removal has a full five-year term, as per the Constitution. 

The election itself, held in Parliament, follows the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, in which the elector has to mark their preferences against the names of the candidates. Interestingly, the MPs vote by secret ballot — and political parties cannot issue any whip to their MPs.

The process is democratic and clear — but politically, the selection is anything but neutral. The electoral college currently has 782 members. The ruling NDA has a strength of 293 and 134 in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively. The opposition parties, on the other hand, have 249 members in the Lok Sabha and 106 in the Rajya Sabha.

According to media reports, the Opposition is likely to throw its hat in the ring, if only to use the moment to consolidate its voice in the Upper House. The Times of India quoted a Congress leader as saying the Opposition will find a suitable consensus candidate.

Given the NDA numbers, the BJP’s chosen nominee will sail through, however. The one important job that vice-presidents have is presiding over the Rajya Sabha — a crucial remit, but more so in times of nettlesome politics. It then falls on the presiding officer to give (or at least allow) the Opposition a robust voice.

Dhankhar’s resignation shocking, Centre should clarify if it had prior info: Gogoi