The Election Commission on Friday announced that India will elect its next vice president on September 9.
Results will be declared on the same day.
The office of the vice president fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down on July 21, citing health concerns and medical advice.
Dhankhar, who took office on August 11, 2022, was expected to serve until 2027. Apart from being the vice president, he also held the position of Rajya Sabha chairperson.
According to the poll schedule, the formal notification will be issued on August 7, with the last date for filing nominations on August 21. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until August 25.
The Election Commission, which is constitutionally mandated under Article 324, will conduct the election as per the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules of 1974. These rules require the entire process to be completed within 30 to 32 days from the date of notification.
The vice president is elected by an electoral college consisting of members from both Houses of Parliament, including 12 nominated members and 233 elected members of the Rajya Sabha, and 543 members from the Lok Sabha.
Unlike the presidential election, state legislators do not take part in this vote.
Voting will take place within the Parliament complex via secret ballot, and MPs are required to rank candidates in order of preference.
So far, neither the ruling BJP-led NDA nor the Opposition INDIA bloc have named their vice-presidential candidates.
The Election Commission also announced that Rajya Sabha Secretary General Pramod Chandra Mody will serve as the Returning Officer, assisted by two Assistant Returning Officers.
Following Dhankhar’s resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished him well, saying the outgoing vice president had "got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities.”
However, Opposition leaders have voiced suspicions about the timing of Dhankhar’s decision.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed there were “far deeper reasons” behind the resignation, while Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan remarked that Dhankhar “did not seem like there was a health issue” when he appeared in Parliament on the same day.