Next Vice President Likely To Be From BJP And Not Nitish Kumar: Report
The BJP will nominate a leader aligned with its ideology for Vice President, dismissing speculation about ally Nitish Kumar. The Election Commission is preparing for the election
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to nominate a seasoned leader from within its own ranks for the post of Vice President, top sources in the party have told NDTV. This puts to rest speculation that the saffron party might consider key allies like Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar for the position vacated by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation.
"The Vice President will be someone closely associated with the party's ideology," a senior BJP leader said, underlining that the choice would reflect the party’s core values.
Speculation Over Nitish Kumar Ruled Out
Earlier, a meeting between JDU leader and Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur and BJP president JP Nadda had sparked rumours of the ally being considered for the role. However, BJP insiders dismissed the buzz, clarifying that it was merely a routine interaction. They also stressed that the party had “not spoken to the JDU leadership about the Vice President post.”
Election Commission Begins Preparations
The Election Commission has initiated groundwork for the Vice Presidential election and will announce the poll schedule soon. In a press note, the poll body stated, "Major pre-announcement activities which have already been started include: (i) Preparation of Electoral College which consists of elected as well as nominated members of Rajya Sabha as well as Lok Sabha; (ii) Finalisation of Returning Officer/ Assistant Returning Officer(s); and (iii) Preparation and dissemination of Background Material on all the previous Vice-Presidential Elections."
Opposition Yet to Field a Candidate
The Opposition is yet to propose a name for the post. Historically, only four out of the 16 Vice Presidential elections have been uncontested, making it likely that the Opposition may field a candidate in the coming days.
Why Dhankhar Resigned: Theories Behind the Exit
Mr Dhankhar’s resignation — well before his term’s scheduled end in August 2027 — has triggered intense speculation. While he cited health reasons, government sources claim his decision to accept an Opposition-backed motion to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma was a key flashpoint.
According to these sources, “Mr Dhankhar crossed the red line several times,” and his stance on farmers’ issues, including questioning Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a public event, added to tensions. There was also talk of a no-confidence motion against him if he had refused to step down.
Top Headlines
