Page 221 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Electing the President and Vice President Chapter 8

community, to occupy the highest constitutional office of
the republic till date.

With the expiry of the term of Vice President M. Venkaiah
Naidu on August 10, 2022, the process to elect a new Vice
President, under Article 68(1) of the Constitution of India,
began with publication of gazette notification on July 5,
2022. The election was conducted on August 6, 2022 with
Jagdeep Dhankhar and Margraret Alva as the candidates.
The former clinched the election by 528 votes against 182
of his rival. Jagdeep Dhankhar was sworn in, by President
Droupadi Murmu, as the 14 Vice President of the
republic on August 11, 2022. Jagdeep Dhankhar sworn in as the Vice President of India, August 11, 2022

Mr. Ballot Box
It being the election to the highest
constitutional office of the republic, the
ballot boxes used in the Presidential poll are
treated with great dignity. There is a standard
operating procedure of transporting them,
and allied election materials, from Nirvachan
Sadan in New Delhi to Legislative Assembly
buildings in various states/UT. A ballot box
always occupies a human seat, while being
transported in a vehicle. The air ticket is
booked in the name of Mr. Ballot Box. It rests
on the seat next to that of the Assistant
Returning Officer during to and from
journey, before and after the poll.
Heightened security cover is provided during
its return journey to New Delhi, whereupon
it is deposited with the Returning Officer i.e
Secretary General, Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha
in the Parliament Building.
The air ticket and travel of Mr. Ballot Box

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