Vice-Presidential Poll Highlights: PM Modi congratulates Jagdeep Dhankhar; EC issues certificate of election

Governors of Assam and Rajasthan called on Vice-President elect Jagdeep Dhankhar here on Sunday. Dhankhar tweeted about his meetings with Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and the party's national secretary Sunil Deodhar also called on the V-P elect. On Saturday, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Dhankhar won with a huge vote share of 74.36 per cent, the highest in the last six vice-presidential elections, with 528 votes against the joint Opposition pick Margaret Alva's 182 votes. He will take oath as the 14th Vice President of India on August 11. (PTI)

Hon'ble Governor of Rajasthan Shri ⁦@KalrajMishra⁩ ji called on Vice President of India-elect ⁦@VPSecretariat⁩ Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/fNROzplc2S

— Jagdeep Dhankhar Vice-President Elect of India (@jdhankhar1) August 7, 2022

The Election Commission on Sunday issued a certificate announcing the election of NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar as the 14th vice president of India.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey signed the "Certification of the Election" of Dhankar. 

A signed copy of the certificate was handed over to the Union Home Secretary by senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma and Narendra N Butolia, senior Principal Secretary in the EC, the poll panel said. 

The signed copy will be read out at the time of oath taking ceremony of the new vice president on August 11. (PTI)

The BJP-led NDA candidate and former West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, 71, was elected as the 14th Vice-President of India on Saturday, trouncing the Opposition nominee Margaret Alva comfortably by securing 528 votes against the latter’s 182 in the poll. 

Since July 2019, when he was appointed by the BJP-ruled Centre as the Bengal Governor, Dhankhar had been at loggerheads with the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government on a range of issues.

For a leader known more for his run-ins with the Banerjee government as the Governor, and whom the TMC had often accused of acting as an “agent of BJP”, the first election Dhankhar contested was on a Janata Dal ticket, when he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu in 1989. Read more

The ever-unpredictable Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Mayawati, has again gone her separate way from the rest of the non-BJP Opposition to back NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar for vice-president. 

Some reasons behind Mayawati’s decision: 

🔴 The Jat vote: Party leaders explained that by “BSP movement”, Mayawati was hinting at Dhankhar’s identity as a Jat. “Jats are OBCs in western Uttar Pradesh… Dhankars are also in significant numbers in Rajasthan, where Assembly elections are due next year. The BSP is focusing on Rajasthan, and party national coordinator Akash Anand (Mayawati’s nephew) has been touring there to prepare for the polls,” a leader said. 

In the 2018 Rajasthan elections, the BSP had won six seats and 4% of the vote share. The party is hoping that support to Dhankhar will earn it additional votes of Jats, both in the state polls now and later in the Lok Sabha elections. 

🔴 The Muslim ‘bogey’: On whether the BSP did not fear alienating the Muslims with its support to an NDA nominee, a party leader said: “Standing with the Opposition does not give one certificate of secularism. Remember, the Congress has tied up with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. The BSP has its own identity and it is free to make a decision.” Read more

Shiromani Akali Dal supported NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar in the vice-presidential elections on Saturday.

This is the second time in less than a month the NDA had found its erstwhile partner in its corner. In July, SAD had supported the NDA presidential candidate, Droupadi Murmu.

In 2020, SAD had pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance in protest against the now-repealed new agriculture laws.

In 2020, SAD had pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance in protesSukhbir said in a tweet, “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, Jagdeep Dhankhar for the Vice Presidency.” In another tweet, he said, “Shiromani Akali Dal is happy that in both Presidential and Vice Presidential polls, we have supported the candidates who have stood by the downtrodden and the farmers.”t against the now-repealed new agriculture laws. Read more

“My operation depends on your cooperation, otherwise there will be separation.” As Venkaiah Naidu, 73, demits office as Vice-President of India on August 10, the Rajya Sabha, of which he is ex-officio Chairman, will be poorer for his quick wit and puns, many of which elicited laughter and served to briefly unite the Treasury and Opposition benches at a time of deep discord and distrust between the two sides. His recent “operation-cooperation-separation” remark was in response to frequent disruptions in the Upper House by Opposition members seeking a discussion on price rise. Read more

Chakshu Roy writes: As it’s most recent occupant, Jagdeep Dhankhar, gets ready to be sworn in as the Vice-President of the country, there is another link between the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata and our national Parliament. 

A building connected with the legislative history of our country, the Bhavan has on its first floor a room distinct from others with its plain white walls and functional furniture, unlike other rooms in the sprawling structure with their priceless art and carpets. This is the Council Chamber, where pre-independent India’s first “central though rudimentary” legislature started its journey. Read more

Soon after NDA candidate was declared winner in the presidential polls on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the former West Bengal Governor to congratulate him on his new position. Dhankhar, who clinched 528 votes, defeated Opposition nominee Margaret Alva, who bagged 182 votes, to become the 14th Vice-President of India. As many as 15 votes were found to be invalid. As the term of incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10, members of both Houses of Parliament throughout the day voted to elect the next Vice-President who will take oath of office on August 11.

President Droupadi Murmu congratulates Jagdeep Dhankhar on his win. "Congratulations to Jagdeep Dhankhar on being elected the Vice President of India. The nation will benefit from your long and rich experience of public life. My best wishes for a productive and successful tenure," she wrote on Twitter.

Congratulations to Jagdeep Dhankhar on being elected the Vice President of India. The nation will benefit from your long and rich experience of public life. My best wishes for a productive and successful tenure.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 6, 2022

"Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning the Vice Presidential elections. His long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of people’s issues will certainly benefit the nation. I am confident that he will make an exceptional VP & Rajya Sabha Chairman," Union Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on Twitter.

Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning the Vice Presidential elections. His long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of people’s issues will certainly benefit the nation. I am confident that he will make an exceptional VP & Rajya Sabha Chairman.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 6, 2022

Opposition candidate Margaret Alva said the V-P election was an opportunity for the opposition to leave the past behind, to work together, and build trust amongst each other. However, some opposition parties chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, she rued. "Unfortunately, some opposition parties chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, in an attempt to derail the idea of a united opposition. It is my belief that by doing so, these parties and their leaders have damaged their own credibility."

This election was an opportunity for the opposition to work together, to leave the past behind & build trust amongst each other. Unfortunately, some opposition parties chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, in an attempt to derail the idea of a united opposition.

— Margaret Alva (@alva_margaret) August 6, 2022

Opposition V-P candidate Margaret Alva congratulates Jagdeep Dhankhar on his win.

Congratulations to Mr Dhankhar on being elected Vice President!

I would like to thank all the leaders of the Opposition, and MPs from across parties who voted for me in this election.

Also, all the volunteers for their selfless service during our short but intense campaign.

— Margaret Alva (@alva_margaret) August 6, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Jagdeep Dhankhar to congratulate him on his election to the post of Vice President of the country.

Moments after Jagdeep Dhankhar was declared winner in the Vice-Presidential polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated him on his new innings. "I am sure that as Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha @jdhankhar1 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 the NDA allies, other parties and members of parliament for supporting Dhankhar ji," Shah wrote on Twitter. 

मुझे विश्वास है कि उपराष्ट्रपति व राज्यसभा के सभापति के रूप में @jdhankhar1 जी संविधान के एक आदर्श संरक्षक सिद्ध होंगे। उन्हें इस जीत पर बधाई देता हूँ।

साथ ही मोदी जी के नेतृत्व में NDA सहयोगियों, अन्य दलों व संसद सदस्यों का धनखड़ जी का समर्थन करने के लिए आभार व्यक्त करता हूँ।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 6, 2022

The BJP-led NDA candidate and former West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, 71, was elected as the 16th Vice-President of India on Saturday, trouncing the Opposition nominee Margaret Alva comfortably by securing 528 votes against the latter’s 182 in the poll.

Former Governor of West Bengal and NDA’s pick Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday defeated Opposition nominee Margaret Alva to become the 14th Vice-President of India. As the term of incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10, members of both Houses of Parliament throughout the day voted to elect the next Vice-President. Dhankhar clinched 528 votes, while Alva got 182. The new Vice-President will take oath of office on August 11.

As the term of incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10, members of both Houses of Parliament on Saturday voted to elect the next Vice-President of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress MP Manmohan Singh were seen casting their vote at the Parliament House on Saturday. The counting of votes has begun. 

BJP MPs Jyotiraditya Scindia, Poonam Mahajan while casting their votes in Parliament today. (Photos: PTI)

Voting to elect India’s next V-P concluded at 5 pm. Counting of votes will begin shortly