If election happen, it can go down as ‘narrowest contest’, but in mind the numbers, the BJP-led NDA has the edge; the question is will the Congress and opposition field a candidate, and does he or she have a chance
Jagdeep Dhankar resigned on Monday, leaving the country in a suspenseful tizzy over why he did that and who will be the next Vice President of India. As the Election Commission of India gets ready to initiate the process of holding an election to the post, names of leaders ranging from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Congress’ Shashi Tharoor are doing the rounds.
In mind the number game, the BJP-led NDA has the edge. The question is will the Congress and opposition field a candidate, and does he or she have a chance in case of a contest. The opposition has not taken a formal call but sources say it may field a candidate and force a contest as it had done in 2017 and 2022 vice-presidential polls.
The number game
The fact is that so far as the numbers are concerned, the BJP and NDA allies have at least 150 more members than the opposition in the Vice Presidential Electoral College which includes MPs from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. With support of 422 of 787 MPs across both Houses, numbers stack up in favour of NDA, but fight may be closer than earlier times
The BJP has 240 members in Lok Sabha and 99 in Rajya Sabha. If the members of allies are included, the ruling side has more than 457 members in both houses of Parliament. The government recently also filled the four nominated seats in Rajya Sabha.
Meanwhile, the Congress—the largest opposition party in both houses—has 99 members in the Lok Sabha and 27 in the Rajya Sabha. Along with the INDIA bloc parties and friends, the total strength adds up to around 300 in the two houses.
The Rajya Sabha also has parties that are said to be non-aligned. They include at least 18 members belonging to the Biju Janata Dal, which is now BJP’s rival in Odisha, the YSR Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi. These parties in the past have largely backed the BJP in case of controversial legislation.
Narrowest contest
This will also be the narrowest contest between the two sides.
In 2017, BJP Candidate Venkaiah Naidu won with a margin of 272 votes.
In 2022, Jagdeep Dhankhar won by a margin of 346 votes.
Trinamool Congress Party had abstained during the 2022 polls, claiming that they were not consulted by the Congress before announcing Alva’s nomination.
TMC has 35 MPs in Parliament.
