Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday that the next Vice President of India will “almost certainly” be the nominee of the ruling BJP, given its clear majority in both Houses of Parliament.
Speaking days after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on July 21, Tharoor added that while the ruling party controls the outcome, he hopes the government will consult the Opposition before making its choice.
The Vice Presidential election will be held on September 9, with the Election Commission issuing the notification on August 7. Nominations close on August 21, and results will be declared on polling day.
The ruling NDA enjoys the support of 422 MPs, well above the 391 votes required to win. Dhankhar, who took office in August 2022, stepped down citing health reasons, though reports suggest strained ties with the Centre.
