New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his wishes to NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankar as he won the 14th Vice-President of India election. PM Modi also reached the residence of Jagdeep Dhankar for congratulating him on being elected as the country's Vice President, as reported by news agency ANI. In the results declared by the returning officer for the Vice Presidential election, he said NDA's vice-presidential nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar secured 528 votes over Opposition candidate Margaret Alva's 182, as reported by PTI.
The 80-year-old Alva is a senior Congress leader and has served as Governor of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, while the 71-year-old Dhankhar is a Jat leader from Rajasthan with a socialist background.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also congratulated and tweeted "the Upper House will definitely benefit from his experience & close understanding of the ground issues."
President Droupadi Murmu, who was elected last month, congratulated Dhankhar and said that nation will benefit from his long and rich experience of public life.
******
Meanwhile, Margaret Alva, the joint candidate of the opposition, also extended her wishes to Dhankar saying, "Congratulations to Mr Dhankhar on being elected Vice President! I would like to thank all the leaders of the Opposition, and MPs from across parties who voted for me in this election. Also, all the volunteers for their selfless service during our short but intense campaign."
"This election is over. The battle for protecting our Constitution, strengthening our democracy & restoring the dignity of Parliament, will continue," she added.
BJP minister Rajnath Singh also extended his wishes and said, "Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning the Vice Presidential elections. His long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of people’s issues will certainly benefit the nation. I am confident that he will make an exceptional VP & Rajya Sabha Chairman."
"Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar ji on being elected as the 14th Vice-President of India. Thank you to Smt Margaret Alva ji for representing the spirit of the joint Opposition with grace and dignity," wrote Rahul Gandhi.
Outgoing Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also congratulated Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying his vast experience and legal expertise will benefit the country.
"Heartiest congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankar ji on being elected as the 14th Vice President of India. The nation will greatly benefit from your vast experience and legal expertise. My best wishes for a successful and fruitful tenure," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu.
Members of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha voted to elect the next Vice President of India on Saturday. In the election, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, pitted former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar against Opposition pick Margaret Alva. Polling began at 10 am at Sansad Bhawan and concluded at 5 pm.
Jagdeep Dhankhar will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends.