Poll panel appoints secretary general of RS as returning officer for election of VP

Election Commission on Friday appointed the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha as the returning officer for election to the office of vice-president. This was done in consultation with ministry of law and justice and with consent of deputy chairman of RS. The poll panel also appointed Garima Jain and Vijay Kumar, joint secretary and director respectively in RS secretariat, as assistant returning officers. The V-P election has been necessitated due to the post falling vacant upon resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.

EC had earlier said it had started pre-announcement activities, after the completion of which it would announce the election schedule "as soon as possible".

Election Commission conducts election to the office of vice-president as per its mandate under Article 324, and in line with Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the rules made under the Act. As per convention, either secretary general, Lok Sabha or secretary general, Rajya Sabha is appointed as returning officer by rotation.

During the last Vice-Presidential election, the secretary general of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the returning officer. Gazette notifications regarding the appointment of the returning officer and assistant returning officer for vice-presidential election 2025 were issued on Friday.