Jagdeep Dhankar elected 14th Vice President of India

NDA's Jagdeep Dhankar won the vice-presidential election to become the 14th Vice-President of India. He defeated Opposition candidate Margaret Alva. Dhankar bagged 528 votes and Opposition candidate Margaret Alva got 182 votes while 15 votes became invalid.   

Outgoing Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday congratulated Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning the vice presidential poll, saying his vast experience and legal expertise will benefit the country.

"Heartiest congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankar ji on being elected as the 14th Vice President of India. The nation will greatly benefit from your vast experience and legal expertise. My best wishes for a successful and fruitful tenure," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu.

Dhankhar, 71, will take oath as vice president on August 11, a day after Naidu demits office.

Opposition nominee for Vice President Margaret Alva on Saturday congratulated her contender -- NDA-backed candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar, after the latter emerged victorious in the Vice-Presidential election.

She said: "This election is over. The battle for protecting our constitution, strengthening our democracy & restoring the dignity of Parliament, will continue."

She thanked all the leaders of the Opposition, and MPs from across parties who voted for her in this election and all the volunteers for their selfless service "during our short but intense campaign".

She said the election was an opportunity for the Opposition to work together, to leave the past behind and build trust amongst each other.

"Unfortunately, some opposition parties chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, in an attempt to derail the idea of a united opposition. It is my belief that by doing so, these parties and their leaders have damaged their own credibility," she added

The Election Commission announced former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's victory at a press conference after the counting of votes.

As the term of incumbent Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10, the members of both houses of the Parliament on Saturday voted to elect the country's 16th Vice-President.