PM Modi casts the opening vote in the Vice Presidential election

Former West Bengal governor and NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar (71), is competing against joint opposition candidate Margaret Alva (80).

Voting for the vice presidential election started at ten in the morning, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to cast his ballot, according to news agency ANI.

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Voting will remain open until 5 o’clock, at which point ballots will be counted.

Former West Bengal governor and NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar, age 71, is competing against joint opposition candidate Margaret Alva (80).

Dhankhar has a definite advantage over his opponent because the BJP, which is in power, has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and 91 seats in the Rajya Sabha. On August 10, incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu’s term will come to an end. He is expected to succeed him.

The vice presidential election is open to all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, including those who have been nominated.

The combined membership of the two Houses of Parliament is 788 MPs, eight of whom are vacancies in the Upper House.

As a result, 780 MPs are qualified to vote in this election.