New Delhi: Two days after vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar posted his surprise resignation letter to the president on X, the Election Commission said has released a press note saying that it is in the process of preparing for elections to his office.

The Union home ministry notified Dhankhar's resignation a day ago, on July 22, through its Gazette Notification S.O.3354(E).

Article 324 mandates the Election Commission to conduct the election to the office of the vice-president. This election is governed by The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.

In its note, the Election Commission said that it has already started the preparations for these polls. Preparatory activities include the creation of the electoral college which consists of elected as well as nominated members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. The EC will finalise the returning officer and assistant returning officers for the exercise. It will also prepare and disseminate background material on previous vice-presidential elections, it notes.

"On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the Election Schedule to the office of the Vice-President of India will follow as soon as possible," it said.

Dhankhar's resignation, the Bharatiya Janata Party's conspicuous silence on it and prime minister Narendra Modi's curt acknowledgement of his services in a post on X a whole 15 hours after the vocal vice-president quit has sent the rumour mills spinning.

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