Jagdeep Dhankar, NDA’s candidate for vice president, on Saturday won the polls bagging 528 votes against his rival candidate Margaret Alva’s 182. 

Nearly 93% of the members of Parliament cast their ballots. The counting started at 6 pm under the supervision of the Lok Sabha Secretary General, who is the returning officer for the poll.

As many as 725 MPs voted in the election, polling for which started at 10 AM and ended at 5 PM.

Also read: Jagdeep Dhankhar: All about India’s new Vice President elect

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee and former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar (71) is pitted against joint Opposition candidate Margaret Alva (80) in the election.

Dhankhar, 71, will succeed M Venkaiah Naidu who demits office August 10.

The returning officer of the vice presidential election said of the total 780 electors, 725 cast their ballots but 15 votes were found to be invalid.

Also Read | Explained: Why BJP chose Jagdeep Dhankhar as its vice president nominee

Of all the valid votes, Dhankhar secured 74.36%. He has the highest winning margin in the last six vice presidential elections held since 1997.

As many as 55 MPs did not vote in the vice presidential election held from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday.

The Trinamool Congress, which has a total of 36 MPs, including 23 in Lok Sabha, had abstained from the election. However, two of its MPs had cast their ballots.

Also Read | When Margaret Alva was called a “dumb doll” 

The numbers were stacked in favour of Dhankhar as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) enjoys an absolute majority in Lok Sabha and has clear advantage in Rajya Sabha.

“Heartiest congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankar ji on being elected as the fourteenth Vice President of India. The nation will greatly benefit from your vast experience and legal expertise. My best wishes for a successful and fruitful tenure,” Venkaiah Naidu tweeted. 

“Conveyed my heartiest congratulations on phone to Shri Jagdeep Dhankar on his election as Vice-President of India. @jdhankhar1,” former India President Ram Nath Kovind said on Twitter. 

“Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning the Vice Presidential elections. His long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of people’s issues will certainly benefit the nation. I am confident that he will make an exceptional VP & Rajya Sabha Chairman,” Union Minister Rajnath Singh said.