Seventy one-year-old Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the new vice president of India. He secured 74 per cent votes, defeating opposition candidate Margaret Alva.
Dhankhar scored 528 out of the 725 polled votes. Alva could get only 182 votes, while 15 votes were termed as invalid. As in the case of the Presidential polls, this election, too, exposed the chinks in the opposition unity. The Trinamool Congress had abstained from voting.
Conceding defeat, Alva said, “This election is over. The battle for protecting our Constitution, strengthening our democracy and restoring the dignity of Parliament, will continue."
Dhankhar will succeed Venkaiah Naidu. His appointment comes at a time when the chasm between the treasury and opposition benches has increased further as investigating agencies have been closing in on several opposition leaders. As a Rajya Sabha chairperson, Dhankhar will have his task cut in increasing productivity of the house as the government is likely to bring some important pieces of legislation before the 2024 elections.
Congratulatory messages poured in for Dhankhar as the returning officer declared the results. President Droupadi Murmu said, “Congratulations to Jagdeep Dhankhar on being elected the Vice President of India. The nation will benefit from your long and rich experience of public life. My best wishes for a productive and successful tenure.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Dhankhar’s residence to congratulate him. Home Minister Amit Shah said it was a matter of pride that a “Kisan putra” was elected as the vice president. “Dhankhar in his long public life has been associated with the people. His keen understanding of the grassroots issues and experience will help the upper house,” Shah said.
A native of Rajasthan, Dhankhar was serving as the West Bengal governor before he was picked up by the BJP as its candidate. He was in the Janta Dal earlier, then switched side to the Congress before joining the BJP in 2003.
The ruling party, after announcing his name, had extolled Dhankhar’s agriculture background by calling him “Kisan Putra”. Dhankhar had taken on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee often, questioning her several of her moves, which the latter termed as interference. With his knowledge of law, Dhankhar countered the state administration during the tenure.
His training as a lawyer and knowledge of the Constitution will come handy in running of the house. Interestingly, now the presiding officers of both houses belong to Rajasthan. Lok Sabha speaker is an MP from the state.
Dhankhar will be sworn in on August 11.