Who Elects the Vice President?
The Vice President of India is elected only by Members of Parliament (MPs). This includes both elected and nominated members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. State assemblies do not take part in this election, which is different from the election of the President. This makes the Vice President’s election simpler and quicker.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria?
To become the Vice President of India, a person must:
- Be a citizen of India
- Be 35 years or older
- Be qualified to become a member of the Rajya Sabha
- Not hold any job under the government that gives a salary or benefit (called an office of profit)
These rules make sure the person has the experience and ability to take on this important role.
How Does the Voting Work?
The Vice President is chosen through a special voting method called the single transferable vote. This is how it works:
- MPs are given a list of candidates. They mark them in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on).
- If no candidate gets enough votes in the first round, the one with the least votes is removed.
- The votes for that candidate are then passed on to the next preferred name.
- This goes on until one candidate gets enough support to win.
This system is fair because it allows every MP’s vote to count fully.
To read more about this system, visit GKToday’s guide on Vice President elections.
How Is It Different from Presidential Elections?
There are some clear differences between the election of the Vice President and the President:
- For the President’s election, both MPs and MLAs from states vote. But for the Vice President, only MPs vote.
- Nominated MPs (who are not elected) can vote for the Vice President, but they cannot vote for the President.
- In Vice President elections, every vote has the same value, but in the President’s election, vote values differ by state.
These differences show that both roles are important, but the way they are chosen is not the same.
What Happens If the Vice President Resigns?
If the Vice President resigns, a new election must be held within six months. Until then, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha performs the Vice President’s duties. The Vice President sends the resignation letter to the President of India. If the President resigns, they send their resignation letter to the Vice President. This keeps the system running smoothly during any changes.
Conclusion
The Vice President plays an important role in Indian democracy, mainly by helping run the Rajya Sabha. The election process is clear and simple, involving only the Members of Parliament.
Understanding how the Vice President is elected in India, who votes, what rules apply, and how it differs from the President’s election helps everyone know more about how our government works. It’s important to be aware of these processes to stay informed and active in a democratic country with Notifire
