Page 214 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

Basappa Danappa Jatti being sworn in as the Vice President of India, 1974 Neelam Sanjiva Reddy assumes the office of the President of India,1977

India, suddenly passed away on February 11, 1977. Vice The Eighth Presidential Election was held on July 15,
President B.D. Jatti became the Acting President on the 1982. Giani Zail Singh comfortably overcame H.R. Khanna
same day. However, necessary steps to elect the new to become the seventh President of India. During his
President could not be taken immediately because the Presidency, the sitting Vice President M. Hidayatullah
process of constituting the Sixth Lok Sabha had completed his normal tenure to retire on August 30,
commenced a day earlier. The elections were completed 1984. In the Vice Presidential elections held on August
on March 23, 1977; and the new Lok Sabha met for the 22, 1984, R. Venkataraman defeated Bapu Chandrasen
first time within a couple of days on March 25. This was Kamble by 508 to 207 votes.
followed by elections to constitute the Legislative
Assemblies in 11 states in June-July 1977.
The Presidential elections were notified on July 4, 1977.
The poll, if necessary, was scheduled for August 6, 1977.
As many as 37 persons had filed their nominations for the
Presidential elections. However, on scrutiny by the
Returning office, 36 nominations were found invalid. This
left only one candidate in the fray viz. Neelam Sanjiva
Reddy, who was declared the winner. Neither publication
of list of candidates, nor the contest became necessary.
Dr. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy became the sixth President of
India on July 25, 1977. From then onwards, all Presidents
of India have completed their normal tenure. July 25
became the customary date when, every fifth year, the
republic gets a new President. Swearing-in ceremony of Vice President Mohammad Hidayatullah, 1979

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