ECI Releases Final Electoral College List for Vice President Election

Rapid summary

• The Vice-Presidential election has been necessitated by the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on july 21, 2025, creating a mid-term vacancy.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on July 31, 2025, that it has finalized the electoral collage list for this election. The notification date for the election is expected soon.
• Under Article 324 of the Constitution and Rule 40 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections rules,1974, ECI is responsible for conducting this election and maintaining an updated electoral college list.
• The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected/nominated members of Rajya Sabha and elected members of Lok Sabha.
• The finalized electoral college list will be available for purchase at ECI counters upon release of the notification.
• Secretary-General P.C. Mody from Rajya Sabha was appointed as Returning Officer; two Assistant Returning Officers-Garima Jain and Vijay Kumar-will assist him in managing the polls.

Indian Opinion analysis

The sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar highlights a rare instance where India’s second-highest constitutional position faces a mid-term vacancy. While such instances bring immediate constitutional protocols into focus, thay also underscore broader questions about continuity in leadership during key governance periods.

The Election Commission’s swift readiness indicates adherence to legal frameworks related to succession planning outlined under Article 324 and associated rules. However, given that this position’s selection derives from an already defined parliamentary process facilitated by nominated/elected representatives rather than direct public voting mechanisms-this ensures minimal disruption while enabling robust scrutiny over candidates selected.

Ultimately, timely elections are critical not only constitutionally but also from institutional stability perspectives within Indian democracy.

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