Category: National

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday initiated the process to elect a new Vice President of India, following the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar earlier this week due to health reasons. Dhankhar, whose tenure was to last until August 10, 2027, stepped down midway, triggering a constitutional requirement for a fresh election. In its official statement, the EC confirmed that it has started preparing the electoral college, which includes all elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament — the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The poll body is in the process of appointing returning officers, after which it will formally announce the election schedule. Electoral Process The Vice President is elected by an electoral college of 786 members (subject to vacancies), through a secret ballot using the proportional representation system via the single transferable vote method, as mandated by Article 66(1) of the Constitution. Under Article 68(2), the election to fill the vacancy must be held “as soon as possible” after it arises. The person elected will begin a full five-year term, regardless of the remaining tenure of the previous officeholder. Current Parliamentary Strength This brings the total strength of the electoral college to 782 at present. NDA’s Numerical Advantage The BJP-led NDA coalition holds a clear majority with: This gives the NDA a total of 422 votes, comfortably surpassing the estimated 394 votes required for a majority, putting it in a strong position to ensure the victory of its nominee. Significance of the Office The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional post in the country and also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The role is crucial for maintaining parliamentary order and ensuring smooth legislative proceedings. With the process underway, the Election Commission is expected to announce the date and nomination schedule soon, setting the stage for the selection of the next occupant of this high constitutional office.

उपराष्ट्रपति जगदीप धनखड़ ने सोमवार को अचानक अपने पद से इस्तीफा दे दिया, जिससे उनके तीन साल के विवादास्पद कार्यकाल का अंत हो गया। यह इस्तीफा अप्रत्याशित था और माना जा रहा है कि यह केंद्र सरकार की नाराजगी के कारण हुआ, क्योंकि धनखड़ ने न्यायमूर्ति यशवंत वर्मा के खिलाफ विपक्ष समर्थित महाभियोग प्रस्ताव को राज्यसभा में स्वीकार कर लिया, जबकि ठीक ऐसा ही प्रस्ताव लोकसभा में सत्तारूढ़ भाजपा द्वारा पहले ही प्रस्तुत किया गया था। धनखड़, जो राज्यसभा के सभापति भी थे, ने यह निर्णय भाजपा को बिना सूचित किए लिया — यह बात केंद्र सरकार को चौंकाने वाली लगी। इसके बाद सरकार के शीर्ष स्तर पर चली बंद कमरे की बैठकों के बाद, रात 9:25 बजे उन्होंने राष्ट्रपति द्रौपदी मुर्मू को एक संक्षिप्त पत्र भेजकर अपने इस्तीफे की सूचना दी, जिसे उन्होंने सबसे पहले सोशल मीडिया मंच ‘X’ पर साझा किया। सरकार की नाराजगी की पृष्ठभूमिNDTV के अनुसार, सरकार ने कई बार महसूस किया कि धनखड़ ने ‘लक्ष्मण रेखा’ पार की है। एक बड़ा उदाहरण दिसंबर 2023 का है, जब राज्यसभा विशेषाधिकार समिति ने आम आदमी पार्टी के सांसद राघव चड्ढा को सदन के नियमों का उल्लंघन करने और मीडिया को गुमराह करने का दोषी पाया था। हालांकि, धनखड़ ने उनकी 114 दिनों की निलंबन अवधि को पर्याप्त सज़ा बताते हुए उसे समाप्त कर दिया, जिससे सरकार असहज हुई। धनखड़ ने खुद ही राघव चड्ढा के खिलाफ शिकायत की थी, जिसमें कहा गया था कि उन्होंने दिल्ली सेवाएं विधेयक पर विचार के लिए बनी सेलेक्ट कमेटी में चार सांसदों के नाम उनकी सहमति के बिना जोड़ दिए थे। राघव चड्ढा और सरकारी बंगला मामलासरकार के सूत्रों ने राघव चड्ढा को मिले बंगले का मामला भी उठाया, जो कि एक नव-निर्वाचित सांसद के दर्जे से ऊपर का था। जब यह बंगला रद्द किया गया, तो चड्ढा ने खाली करने से इनकार कर दिया और अदालत चले गए। दिल्ली हाईकोर्ट ने उन्हें अंतरिम राहत दी, जिससे राज्यसभा सचिवालय उन्हें बेदखल नहीं कर सका। विपक्ष के साथ लगातार टकरावधनखड़ के कार्यकाल के दौरान विपक्ष के साथ भी कई बार उनकी तीखी टकराहट हुई। उन पर भाजपा के पक्ष में पक्षपात करने और विपक्ष को संसद में बोलने का पर्याप्त मौका न देने के आरोप लगे। इन्हीं कारणों से पिछले वर्ष विपक्ष ने उनके खिलाफ अविश्वास प्रस्ताव लाने की कोशिश की थी। निष्कर्षधनखड़ का इस्तीफा ऐसे समय आया है जब न्यायपालिका, संसद और कार्यपालिका के बीच शक्तियों की सीमाएं फिर चर्चा में हैं। अब देखना यह होगा कि नए राज्यसभा सभापति के रूप में कौन आता है और न्यायमूर्ति यशवंत वर्मा के खिलाफ महाभियोग प्रस्ताव का भविष्य क्या होता है।

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for brokering peace between India and Pakistan, asserting that he prevented a nuclear war and halted a conflict in which five fighter jets were allegedly shot down. This latest assertion has drawn sharp criticism from India’s Congress party, which slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maintaining silence on the matter. At a White House reception on Tuesday, Trump reiterated his claim of having stopped wars between multiple countries, including India and Pakistan. “They shot down five planes and it was back and forth… I called them and said, ‘No more trade. If you do this, you’re not going to be good.’ They’re both nuclear powers, and who knows where it would have ended up? And I stopped it,” Trump stated. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, responded on social media, pointing out that Trump has now made this claim 25 times in the last 73 days. He criticized Prime Minister Modi for his continued silence, accusing him of “finding time only to travel abroad and destabilise democratic institutions at home,” instead of addressing serious diplomatic assertions made by Trump. Ramesh further alleged that the Modi government is refusing to give firm dates for a parliamentary debate on the Pahalgam-Sindoor conflict, and is evading accountability by not committing to a reply from the Prime Minister. Trump had previously announced on May 10 via social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after overnight negotiations mediated by Washington. Since then, he has repeatedly claimed that it was U.S. intervention—particularly trade threats—that brought an end to the hostilities. India, however, has consistently dismissed Trump’s claims. According to official statements, the understanding on ceasefire was reached after direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the Indian and Pakistani militaries. During a 35-minute phone call last month, Prime Minister Modi is said to have firmly told Trump that India has “never accepted and will never accept” third-party mediation in matters concerning Pakistan. The ceasefire came after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Following four days of intense drone and missile exchanges, both sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities on May 10. While Trump continues to take credit for the truce, New Delhi maintains that it was a bilateral military-level initiative, with no role played by foreign mediation.