All You Need To Know About The Election Of Vice-President Of India

The voting to elect India's 15th Vice President will be held on 5 August and the results will be announced the same day. The term of incumbent Hamid Ansari, who has held the post for two consecutive terms, comes to an end on 10 August.

The Vice President is the second highest constitutional post in India. The Vice President is the 'ex-officio' Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Election process

The election for the Vice President is conducted through a secret ballot where the members of Electoral College consisting of Members of the both Houses of Parliament including, the nominated members of Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha vote. Members of Parliament will use special pens for marking their choice. Votes marked with any other pen are liable to be rejected. The ballot paper shall contain the names of contesting candidates Venkaiah Naidu and Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

Rajya Sabha

Elected: 233

Nominated: 12

Lok Sabha

Elected: 543

Nominated: 2

Total = 790

A candidate needs 20 electors as proposers and at least another 20 electors as seconders for his nomination. The candidate also has to make a security deposit of Rs. 15,000.

Eligibility criteria

A person shall be eligible for election as Vice-President if he:

a) is a citizen of India;

b) has completed the age of 35 years;

c) is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States.

A person shall not be eligible for election as Vice-President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any Local or other Authority subject to the control of any of said Governments.

However, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.

VP As Acting President

In case of the demise or impeachment or resignation of the President, the vice-president becomes the acting President as the office of the head of the nation cannot be kept vacant and stays on the post for a maximum period of six months and performs all the functions of the President.

Term

The Vice President is elected for a period of five years. There is no fixed retirement age to the Vice President and he or she can be re-elected as the Vice President for any number of times.

Removal of the Vice-President

The Vice President can be terminated before the completion of fixed five-year term, either by resignation or by removal by the President. There is no formal process of impeachment for the removal of the Vice President, and a removal proceeding can be initiated when members of the Rajya Sabha vote against the Vice President in an effective majority and members of Lok Sabha agree to this decision in a simple majority.

A total of 14 days advance notice must be given prior to the initiation of the removal proceedings of the Vice President. In such cases, when a temporary vacancy in the office of the Vice President is created, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha takes over the role of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Unlike the President, the Vice President is not allotted any special residential privileges while in office. While the President of India stays in the Rastrapati Bhavan, the Vice President is not subjected to any such benefits during his or her tenure as the Vice-President. ANI