Page 217 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Electing the President and Vice President Chapter 8

Krishan Kant passed away due to cardiac arrest on July 27.
He thus became the only Vice President to die in harness.
On August 12, 2002 in the polls for the Vice President's
office, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat emerged as the winner.

In the Thirteenth Presidential Election, 2007 India got her
first woman President. In the poll conducted on July 19,
2007, Pratibha Devisingh Patil defeated Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat, who was the sitting Vice President. He
resigned from Vice President's post on July 23, more than
three weeks ahead of the expiry of his tenure. On the eve
of Presidential election, certain doubts were created in
the minds of some electors regarding voting for any
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam being sworn in as the President of India, 2002 candidate because of the official stance adopted by the
political parties they belonged to. And whether voting
Due to formation of three new states viz. Jharkand,
was mandatory. The Election Commission clarified that
Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) in the like in any election conducted by it, voting was voluntary.
year, 2000 the number of states including NCT of Delhi
No party could compel an elector to vote or refrain from
and UT Pondicherry (now Puducherry) rose to 30. Total
it. Moreover, voting in Presidential election was different
membership of the electoral college touched an all-time
from in-house voting in the legislatures. Hence, under
high of 4896.
Section 171-C of the Indian Penal Code, no political party
However, a tragedy struck within days of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul could issue any whip or direction for its legislators to vote
Kalam assuming his office on July 25, 2002. Vice President in a particular manner or refrain from it.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat being sworn in as the Vice President of India, 2002 Pratibha Devisingh Patil assumes the office of the President of India, 2007

199