Vice Presidential Race Heats Up After Dhankhar's Exit; Tharoor Says Outcome Favors BJP-Led NDA

As the race to elect India’s next Vice President gains momentum following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday remarked that the outcome is virtually a foregone conclusion — and it clearly favors the ruling BJP-led NDA.

“All we know is that it will be somebody whom the ruling party nominates, as we already know the composition of the electorate,” Tharoor told reporters. “We hope they consult the Opposition too, but who knows?”

Tharoor’s comments come at a time when he has been in the spotlight for reported tensions with his own party. The friction grew after the Modi government included him in a multi-party delegation tasked with taking India’s anti-terror message abroad following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor.

The Congress was reportedly displeased that Tharoor was chosen without the party’s input — and even more so after he praised Prime Minister Modi during the trip to the U.S. and other countries. Despite his credentials as a former international diplomat and a minister in the UPA government, the Congress did not include him among its speakers during the recent Parliament debate on Operation Sindoor. When asked about his omission, Tharoor simply said, “maunvrat” — a vow of silence.

Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation on July 21 has fueled speculation about his reasons for stepping down. Notably, he had more than two years left in his term and did not resign to pursue a higher office — a first in the history of the Vice Presidency.

Tharoor explained that the Vice President of India is elected solely by Members of Parliament, unlike the Presidential election, which also includes members of state legislatures. The Electoral College consists of 233 elected and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha, along with 543 members of the Lok Sabha. With current vacancies — five in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha — the total strength of the Electoral College stands at 782.

The election will be held on September 9, with voting scheduled to take place in Room F-101, Vasudha, on the first floor of the new Parliament building between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The results will be declared the same day.

While the BJP-led NDA holds a clear numerical advantage, the Congress-led Opposition is expected to put forward a joint candidate to contest the post. Whether that move will influence the outcome remains to be seen, but as Tharoor suggested, the odds appear firmly stacked in the ruling alliance’s favor.