Vice-Presidential Poll highlights: President Murmu wishes Jagdeep Dhankhar ‘a productive VP tenure’

“I thank all those MPs who have voted for Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji. At a time when India marks Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we are proud to be having a Kisan Putra Vice President who has excellent legal knowledge and intellectual prowess,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

Several opposition parties, such as the Janata Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena backed Dhankhar. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress decided to abstain from voting alleging a lack of consultations while deciding on the name of Alva. However, two of its MPs voted.

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Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reach the residence of newly elected Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in Delhi.

“Heartiest congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar ji on being elected as the fourteenth Vice President of India. The nation will greatly benefit from your vast experience and legal expertise. My best wishes for a successful and fruitful tenure,” tweets M Venkaiah Naidu. His tenure will end on August 10.

Defence Min Rajnath Singh congratulates Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning Vice Presidential polls; tweets "His long public life, wide experience & deep understanding of people’s issues will certainly benefit the nation. I'm confident that he'll make an exceptional VP & RS Chairman."

“Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar ji on being elected as the 14th Vice-President of India. Thank you to Smt @alva_margaret ji for representing the spirit of the joint Opposition with grace and dignity (sic)," tweets Rahul Gandhi.

“I would like to thank all the leaders of the Opposition, and MPs from across parties who voted for me in this election,” says Margaret Alva after losing the VP polls. 

“I am sure that as Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Dhankhar ji will prove to be an ideal guardian of the Constitution. I congratulate him on this victory. Also, under the leadership of Modi ji, I express my gratitude to NDA allies, other parties and members of parliament for supporting Dhankhar ji,” tweets Home Minister Amit Shah.

NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar won by 346 votes as he bagged 528 of the total 725 votes that were cast. While 15 were termed invalid, Opposition candidate Margaret Alva received 182 votes in the election: LS Gen-Secy Utpal K Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his way to meet and congratulate Jagdeep Dhankhar on his election as Vice President.

NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar to take oath as 14th Vice President of India.

With the ruling BJP having an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and 91 members in the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar has a clear edge over his rival. He is likely to succeed incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu, whose tenure ends on August 10.

NDA's Vice Presidential Candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived at the residence of Parliamentary affaris minister Prahlad Joshi at 11 Akbar road, New Delhi before the announcement of results. 

725 out of 780 MPs voted for the Vice Presidential Election. Two BJP MPs - Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dhotre, who are unwell, did not vote.

Members of Parliament of both Houses are voting today to elect the next Vice President of India. The counting of ballots will take place at 6pm.

1. Margaret Alva was born to a Christian family in Mangalore, Karnataka. She is a graduate of Mount Carmel College and went on to get a law degree from the University of Law College & Department of Studies in Law.

2. A member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Alva became the convenor of the Karnataka Congress’ women’s front in 1972.

3. Margaret Alva was in the spotlight in 2008 for raising her voice against the Congress’ ticket distribution in Karnataka and alleging that the tickets were open to bidders.

4. Alva was elected to the Rajya Sabha as a Congress representative in 1974. She served a six-year term and was re-elected for three more years.

5. Margaret Alva has served as the Governor of Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand during her administrative stint.

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> Dhankhar, who is a lawyer by profession, joined politics in 1989.

> He became the governor of West Bengal in July 2019 and has made headlines since then over his tumultuous relations with the Mamata Banerjee government.

> He tendered his resignation as the Governor of West Bengal after being nominated as VP candidate by BJP-led NDA.

Over 85 per cent votes were polled in the Vice Presidential election till 2pm. Of the 780 MPs in both Houses -- another eight Rajya Sabha seats are vacant -- around 670 of them had cast their vote so far, officials told PTI.

All MPs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are entitled to vote in the vice presidential election. The two Houses of Parliament together have a sanctioned strength of 788 MPs, of which there are eight vacancies in the Upper House. Hence, 780 MPs are eligible to cast their ballot in this election.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said his party has supported NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar in the polling to elect the next Vice President of India. In a tweet, Badal said, "Shiromani Akali Dal supports a peasant's son, crusader for farmers' rights and the man who secured OBC status for the farming community (Jats) in his state, Sh Jagdeep Dhankhar for the Vice Presidency."