Jagdeep Dhankhar Elected 16th Vice-President of India

NEW DELHI, (IANS) – Former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on August 6 was elected as the 16th Vice-President of India.

The Election Commission announced that Dhankhar — the NDA nominee, emerged victorious in the Vice-Presidential election in which he was pitted against the Opposition’s candidate Margaret Alva.

As the term of incumbent Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10, the members of both houses of the Parliament voted to elect the next Vice-President.

Utpal Kumar Singh, returning officer for the vice-presidential election, said that of total of 780 electors, only 725 voted for the vice-presidential poll. Of the total 725 votes, 15 votes were found invalid.

As per the Election Commission, Dhankhar secured a total of 528 first preference votes, while Alva got 182 votes.