Vice-presidential poll: Of 780 MPs, 725 cast vote; NDA's Dhankhar frontrunner

Vice-presidential election 2022: National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Jagdeep Dhankhar (71) is pitted against Opposition's Margaret Alva (80) for the post.

Updated on: Aug 6, 2022, 18:14:54 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Of the 780 MPs, 725 voted for the vice-presidential election on Saturday as the voting ended at 5pm and the counting of ballots began at 6pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh cast their ballots early in the day, while two BJP MPs Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dhotre, who are unwell, did not vote.

NDA's vice-presidential candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders in New Delhi.  ((Arvind Yadav/HT file))

National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Jagdeep Dhankhar (71) is pitted against Opposition's Margaret Alva (80) for the post.

The Trinamool Congress, which has 39 MPs, including 23 in Lok Sabha, has already announced its decision to abstain from this election.

Polling to elect the next Vice President of India began at 10 am, with Modi being among the first ones to do so.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh arrived in a wheelchair and needed support to stand up and vote. CPM MP John Brittas was among those who helped the veteran leader in exercising his franchise. The two-term former prime minister greeted those present with folded hands.

Also Read | Vice-Presidential Poll LIVE

Home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and commerce minister and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal were among the leaders who turned up early at the Parliament House.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi also cast their ballot post noon.

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.

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.