Context

NDA candidate and Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan has been elected as the new Vice-President of India, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar. He defeated opposition candidate and former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy by a margin of 152 votes.

Constitutional Provisions

The office of the Vice-President is governed by Articles 64 to 68 of the Indian Constitution.

• Articles 64–68 of the Constitution lay down the rules for the Vice-President.
• Article 66: Election by an Electoral College.
• Article 67: Term of five years, continues until successor assumes office.
• Article 68: Election within six months in case of vacancy.
• Article 66(2): Vice-President cannot be a member of Parliament or State Legislature.

The Vice-President is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, responsible for presiding over its proceedings.

Electoral College and Voting Process

• The Electoral College for this office consists exclusively of the members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), including nominated members.
• State legislatures do not participate in this election, making it purely a parliamentary affair.
• The voting system is based on:
• Proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV) – ensuring that the winning candidate secures a broad consensus.
• Secret ballot – MPs cast their votes freely, without party whips. The Anti-Defection Law does not apply, guaranteeing independence of choice.
• Equal vote value – unlike the Presidential election, where MPs and MLAs’ votes carry different weightage, here each MP’s vote carries one value.

For a candidate to be declared elected, he or she must secure more than 50% of the valid votes cast plus one.

Conduct of Election

The responsibility of conducting the election lies with the Election Commission of India (ECI), under the authority of Article 324 of the Constitution.

• By convention, the Secretary-General of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha is appointed as the Returning Officer.
• Ballot papers are printed in pink colour, bilingual in Hindi and English, and contain columns for indicating voter preferences.
• The election is conducted in the Parliament House complex, and the counting of votes is usually completed on the same day, ensuring swift declaration of results.

Term and Succession

·         The Vice-President holds office for five years and continues until the successor takes charge.

·         In case of vacancy due to resignation, death, or removal, a new election must be conducted within six months.

·         Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides over the House.

Conclusion:

The office of the Vice-President ensures continuity in governance and stability in the functioning of Parliament. By involving both elected and nominated MPs, the election process reflects broad representation, while the secret ballot guarantees independence of choice. The position remains central to India’s constitutional design, bridging parliamentary responsibility with constitutional authority.