New Delhi, 21 August: India Block Vice President and former Supreme Court Judge B Sudarsen Reddy filed his nomination as Congress President Mallikrajun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi and leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.
NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and several other leaders of the coalition were also present.
Earlier, Reddy hoped to get support in party lines, forming the election as an ideology competition rather than numbers.
Reddy told reporters before registering his nomination papers, “The number is going on … of course, I hope. Since I am not related to any political party, I believe everyone will support me … I made it very clear tomorrow. It is a fight for ideology.”
“The program is simple, I am going to the Returning Officer to submit my nomination papers,” he said.
The Election Commission had earlier announced that the voting for the Vice Presidential election will be held on 9 September, with the same day count.
The last date for filing nomination is 21 August, while candidates can withdraw their nominations by 25 August. On the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament on 21 July, when Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned, citing health reasons on 21 July, the post of Vice President was vacant.
The VP is elected by an electoral college, which consists of MPs of both houses of Parliament. The Vice President’s elections are ruled by provisions under Articles 64 and 68 of the Constitution. The Election Commission informs VP elections by the President and Vice President Election Act, 1952.
According to Article 66 (1) of the Constitution of India, the Vice President will be conducted by a system of proportional representation through single transferable votes, and in such an election, voting will be done by secret voting.
On the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 21, Jagdeep Dhakhar became the post of Vice President after resigning from the post of Vice President citing health reasons. (AI)