The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Parliamentary Board is scheduled to hold a significant meeting on Sunday evening, at around 6 p.m., to decide on the party’s nominee for the post of Vice President of India. This decision comes in the wake of Jagdeep Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation from the position, in which he cited health-related concerns as the primary reason for stepping down. Sources have indicated that the final name will be decided during this meeting, and the official nomination is expected to be filed on August 21.
According to reports, the nomination process will see participation from all Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of states governed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The collective involvement of senior political leaders in the event underscores the political importance of the Vice Presidential position, especially given the sudden vacancy. The filing of the nomination papers for the NDA’s chosen candidate is scheduled for August 21, aligning with the formal election timeline.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, speaking earlier on Thursday, mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President JP Nadda would personally decide on the NDA’s candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential polls. He suggested that the name is likely to be announced on August 12. Rijiju’s statement followed a high-level meeting of NDA floor leaders held at the Parliament building, where strategic discussions took place regarding the nomination process.
Several prominent political figures were present at this gathering, including JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde, politicians Milind Deora, Praful Patel, Chirag Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha, Ram Mohan, Lallan Singh, Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel, and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. The participation of such a diverse group of leaders highlighted the need for consensus and coordination within the alliance on the choice of a candidate.
The Election Commission of India, on August 7, officially issued a notification outlining the schedule for the Vice Presidential election, which is set to take place on September 9. The notice provided detailed guidelines for filing nomination papers, as well as the deadlines for the withdrawal of candidature. This process follows standard electoral procedures to ensure transparency and fair conduct of the election.
The upcoming election was triggered by the unexpected resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. His decision to step down came right after he presided over the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament in his capacity as Rajya Sabha Chairman. In his formal resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar stated that he needed to prioritise his personal health and adhere to medical recommendations. His exit, however, sparked intense speculation in political circles, with many questioning whether there were deeper reasons behind the move.
Adding to the intrigue, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh publicly remarked that there might be “far more” behind Dhankhar’s resignation than was being disclosed. Ramesh revealed that he had spoken to the 74-year-old former Vice President just two hours before the resignation was announced, and at that time, Dhankhar had not expressed any signs of urgency or concern. This discrepancy has led to further debate and discussions about the true circumstances surrounding his departure from office.
