Srinagar, July 23 -- Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21 citing health reasons, creating a vacancy during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. Just two days later, the Election Commission of India initiated the process for electing his successor.

The Vice President is elected by an electoral college comprising 788 members of both Houses of Parliament, 543 from the Lok Sabha and 245 from the Rajya Sabha, as per Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution and the Vice-President (Election) Rules, 1974. However, due to existing vacancies, only 782 members will participate in this election. With one Lok Sabha and five Rajya Sabha seats vacant, the winning candidate will require 392 votes.

Of the five vacant Rajya Sabha seats,...