BJP Eyes Loyalist for Vice-President Post After Dhankhar’s Exit, Nitish Kumar Not in Race

NEW DELHI:
In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has indicated that the next Vice President of India will be a seasoned leader firmly aligned with the party’s ideology, effectively putting to rest speculation about key allies like Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar being considered for the prestigious role.

Sources within the BJP have revealed that the party is keen on fielding a candidate who reflects its core principles, especially in the wake of the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. “The nominee will be someone deeply rooted in the party’s values,” a senior BJP leader informed.

Earlier, a meeting between Union Minister and JDU leader Ram Nath Thakur and BJP national president J P Nadda sparked widespread political chatter. However, BJP insiders were quick to dismiss the meeting as routine and unrelated to the Vice Presidential race. “No discussions were held with JDU leadership regarding the post,” clarified a source.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has begun preparations for conducting the Vice Presidential election. The poll body in its statement mentioned that key processes including the formation of the Electoral College, appointment of the Returning Officer, and compilation of background material on previous elections are underway. The official poll schedule will be announced after due formalities are completed.

Notably, the opposition has yet to propose a candidate for the post, although political observers suggest that a contest is likely, considering that only four out of 16 Vice Presidential elections have gone uncontested in India’s history.

Dhankhar’s resignation, which came well ahead of his term’s conclusion in August 2027, has triggered widespread speculation in political corridors. While the official reason cited was health issues, sources within the government suggest that the former Vice President’s actions—including his openness to an opposition-backed motion to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma—may have prompted his exit. His critical remarks on the farm sector and his probing questions to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a public forum were reportedly viewed as stepping beyond his brief.

Government sources also indicated that Dhankhar was increasingly seen as allowing too much leeway to opposition leaders, prompting concerns within ruling circles. There were even murmurs of a no-confidence motion being readied against him, had he not stepped down voluntarily.

With Dhankhar’s departure, the race to Rashtrapati Bhavan’s ceremonial second-highest office has begun in earnest. While some believed BJP might extend an olive branch to allies like Nitish Kumar, especially with Bihar elections on the horizon, party sources have rubbished such reports, reiterating that the Vice President will be a loyalist with strong ideological credentials.