, election process, nomination.){kind=link}
India has elected its 15th Vice President Mr.Venkaiah Naidu. Following 10 Points explains all about Vice President Election in India – including process, eligibility, voters, nomination, security deposit, salary, removal and much more.
1. Time of Election
Election of Vice President, the second highest constitutional post in India is conducted before the expiry of the term of existing Vice President.
2. Nomination
The candidate needs 20 electors as proposers and at least another 20 electors as seconders for his nomination. The candidate also has to make a security deposit of Rs. 15,000.
3. Eligibility for candidature
Any citizen of India who has completed the age of 35 years and is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States is eligible to contest Vice-President Election. Also, he must not hold any office of profit.
4. Voters in Vice President Election
The Electoral college for election of Vice President consist all the members of Parliament i.e 790 includes Lok Sabha (543+2) and Rajya Sabha (233+12) members. This electoral college includes nominated members too.
5. Role of Election Commission
According to Constitution of India, Article superintendence, direction and control the Vice-Presidential election lie with the Election Commission of India. The Election Commission is responsible for whole election process from notification of election, nomination papers, the appointment of Returning Officer, Voting, counting of votes and declaration of the winner.
6. Election Process
The system for election of Vice President is proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
Unlike different values of votes in Presidential Election, the value of each vote in the Vice-Presidential election is one. A Ballot paper contains a list of candidate’s name and voters are required to mark their preferences against names of those candidates (e.g. 1,2,3,4..).
During counting, whichever candidate will secure 50% of the total valid votes +1 will be declared as a winner i.e. 790/2+1= 396 (in the case of 790 valid votes).
7. Constitutional Provisions
Articles 63-73 of Indian Constitution give all the information related to Vice President of India. And, Article 324 of the Constitution read with the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974, provides information on Vice President Election.
9. Removal or Vacancy
A total of 14 days advance notice must be given prior to the initiation of the removal proceedings of the Vice President. The temporary vacancy in the office of the Vice President is created, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha takes over the role of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
10. Salary
Vice President gets his salary Rs. 1,25,000 for being ex-officio Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). In a case of vacancy if he becomes President of India then he will take salary Rs. 1.5 Lakh of President and will stop getting the salary of ex-officio chairperson.
You may also like reading