Jagdeep Dhankhar India's new Vice Prez, defeats Margaret by 346 votes

New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA candidate and former West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, 71, was elected as the 16th Vice-President of India on Saturday, trouncing the Opposition nominee Margaret Alva comfortably by securing 528 votes against the latter’s 182 in the poll.
A man of many interests, his long legal career at the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court and a brief stint as the junior parliamentary affairs minister at the Centre will come in handy as he presides over the Rajya Sabha as its Chairman.
Dhankhar, who had been associated with the Janata Dal and the Congress, joined the BJP only in 2008 after a hiatus of nearly a decade.
He has championed issues related to Other Backward Classes, including the grant of OBC status to the Jat community in Rajasthan.
While his surprise appointment as the West Bengal governor in 2019 brought him back to the political limelight, he did not shy away from the hurly-burly of politics and was caught in frequent run-ins with the state's ruling Trinamool Congress.
The BJP described Dhankhar as "kisan putra" while announcing his candidature for the vice presidential election, a move seen in the political circles aimed at reaching out to the politically significant Jat community which had participated in huge numbers in the year-long farmers' protests on the borders of the national capital against agriculture reform measures unveiled in June 2020.
Prior to his appointment as the West Bengal Governor in 2019, Dhankar was an unfamiliar name in the political circles, particularly so as the last public office he held was as the Member of Rajasthan Assembly from 1993-98 from the Congress party.
Dhankhar, who took to cricket in his school days and also had keen interest in spirituality and meditation, began his political journey with the Janata Dal and won the Lok Sabha elections in 1989, held under the shadow of the Bofors scandal, from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. He had a brief stint as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs under Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.
President Droupadi Murmu said the nation will benefit from Dhankhar's long and rich experience in public life and extended her best wishes for a productive and successful tenure.
Outgoing Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also congratulated Dhankhar and said, "The nation will greatly benefit from your vast experience and legal expertise. My best wishes for a successful and fruitful tenure."
Modi met the vice president-elect at the residence of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and greeted him with a bouquet. The prime minister later thanked all those MPs who voted for Dhankhar.
"At a time when India marks Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we are proud to be having a Kisan Putra Vice President who has excellent legal knowledge and intellectual prowess," Modi tweeted.
"Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji on being elected India's Vice President with resounding support across party lines. I am confident he will be an outstanding Vice President. Our nation will gain tremendously from his intellect and wisdom," he said.
In a tweet, BJP national president J P Nadda said, "It is a proud moment for the country to have 'kisan putra' (son of farmer) Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President. I am sure that your tenure will take the country to new heights of glory."
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Dhankhar and thanked Margaret Alva for representing the spirit of the joint Opposition with grace and dignity.
Congratulating Dhankhar for his victory, Alva noted that while this election is over, "the battle for protecting the Constitution, strengthening democracy and restoring Parliament's dignity will continue."
She hit out at some opposition parties for supporting the BJP in this election "directly or indirectly" and said it was an attempt to "derail" the idea of a united opposition.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh said he is confident that Dhankhar will make an exceptional Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman. His long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of people's issues will certainly benefit the nation.
Echoing similar sentiments, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Dhankhar will prove to be an ideal guardian of the Constitution while holding the post besides functioning as chairman of the Rajya Sabha."
Several opposition leaders also congratulated Dhankhar on being elected as Vice President. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar wished him success in his tenure as the Vice President.
Congratulating Dhankhar, DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said, "Hope the ideals enshrined in our constitution will be upheld during your tenure besides strengthening the democratic debates in the Upper House."
Ashok Gehlot, Congress leader and chief minister of Rajasthan, the state from where Dhankhar hails, said the people of the state are happy that he has become the second Vice President from Rajasthan after Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also congratulated Dhankhar, saying his "isdom, sagacity and experience of long public life will immensely benefit the country".

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