Context:
Prime Minister of India cast the first vote in the Vice Presidential election, where CP Radhakrishnan and Justice B. Sudershan Reddy are contesting.
Electoral Process:
- Electoral College:
- Composed of all elected and nominated members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
- Unlike the President’s election, State Legislatures are excluded.
- Equal Value of Votes:
- Each MP’s vote = 1 (no weighted value like in Presidential election).
- Ballot Paper & Preferences:
- Ballot paper is pink, bilingual (Hindi & English).
- MPs mark preferences numerically (1, 2, 3…).
Quota Calculation (Winning Threshold):
- Formula: (Total Valid Votes ÷ 2) + 1
- Example: If 780 MPs vote, quota = 391 votes.
Counting & Transfer of Votes (Single Transferable Vote – STV):
- First Preference Count: Candidate reaching quota is declared elected.
- If no one reaches quota → lowest candidate eliminated, votes transferred based on next preference.
- Process repeats until a candidate crosses the quota.
Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 63: Establishes the office of the Vice President as the second-highest constitutional authority.
- Article 64: Vice President is ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha; cannot hold any other office of profit.
- Article 65: Acts as President in the event of death, resignation, removal, or incapacity of the President, until a new election is held (within 6 months).
Eligibility Criteria:
- Citizenship: Must be a citizen of India.
- Age: Minimum 35 years.
- Qualification: Must be eligible for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- Office of Profit: Cannot hold any office of profit under the Union, State, or local authority, except as Vice President, Governor, or Union/State Minister.
Key Features of the Office:
- Tenure: 5 years; continues until successor assumes office.
- Vacancy & Removal:
- Can resign to the President.
- Can be removed by a Rajya Sabha resolution, agreed to by Lok Sabha (14-day notice required).
- Acting President: Assumes all powers, privileges, and emoluments of the President during absence or vacancy.
- Chairperson Role:
- Presides over Rajya Sabha debates and maintains order.
- Does not vote, except in case of a tie.
