Jagdeep Dhankhar, former Bengal governor, sworn in as India's vice president

Jagdeep Dhankhar was elected as the Vice President on August 6, securing 74.36 per cent – the highest ever votes received in the last six vice presidential elections held since 1997. He defeated the Opposition's Margaret Alva to emerge as a winner.

Updated on: Aug 11, 2022, 12:37:32 IST

By HT News Desk

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Former West Bengal Governor and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar was Thursday sworn in as the 14th Vice President of India. Dhankar's oath was administered by the country's newly elected president Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Ram Nath Kovind, former vice president Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and several other leaders were present at the oath taking ceremony of the new vice president.

Ahead of his swearing-in, Dhankhar visited Raj Ghat in Delhi and paid his respects to ‘Pujya Bapu’ Mahatma Gandhi.

"Felt blessed, inspired and motivated to be ever in service of Bharat in serene sublimity of Raj Ghat while paying respects to Pujya Bapu," Dhankhar tweeted sharing pictures from his visit.

Also Read | NDA's V-P nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar: 5 things to know about Mamata’s bete noire

Dhankhar was elected as the Vice President on August 6, securing 74.36 per cent – the highest ever votes received in the last six vice presidential elections held since 1997. He defeated the Opposition's Margaret Alva to emerge as a winner.

Dhankhar will also preside over the Rajya Sabha as the ex-officio Chairman.

Dhankhar belongs to an agrarian household in a village in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district and completed his school education from Sainik School, Chittorgarh. After finishing his graduation in physics, he pursued LLB from the University of Rajasthan. Despite being a first-generation professional, he became one of the leading lawyers in the state.

Dhankhar, 71, has practised in both the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court of India. He entered public life after getting elected as a Member of Parliament from Jhunjhunu in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections on a Janata Dal ticket. He also served as a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. His politics was initially influenced by former deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

Dhankhar was appointed as the Governor of Bengal in 2019 and was known for his frequent run-ins with the Mamata Banerjee government. He resigned from the post of West Bengal Governor on July 17 after his name was announced as the vice Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

With Dhankhar's election as Vice-President, the presiding officers of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be from Rajasthan.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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