PM Modi Votes As Polling Begins To Elect India’s Next Vice President

At ten in the morning, voting to choose the next vice president of India got underway, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the first few to cast his ballot. Voting will remain open until 5 o’clock, at which point ballots will be counted.

Former West Bengal Governor and National Democratic Alliance nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar, 71, is running against Margaret Alva, 80, of the opposition. Mr. Dhankhar has a definite advantage over his opponent because the BJP, which is in power, has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and 91 members in the Rajya Sabha. On August 10, incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu’s term will come to an end. He is expected to succeed him.

Voting for the vice president is open to all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, including those who have been nominated. The combined membership of the two Houses of Parliament is 788 MPs, eight of whom are vacancies in the Upper House.

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