Jagdeep Dhankhar, NDA’s
nominee in the Vice-Presidential elections and former governor of West Bengal,
is the new Vice President of India. Born on May 18, 1951, Jagdeep Dhankhar
is 71 years old. He was born in Kithana, Jhunujhunu district in India’s western
district of Rajasthan.

Dhankhar was born
to Gokal Chand and Kesari Devi in a Hindu Jat family. In 1979, he married
Sudesh Dhankhar. The same year, Dhankhar joined the Bar Council of Rajasthan.
He became a senior advocate in the High Court of Rajasthan in 1990. In 2019,
when he took oath as the Governor of West Bengal, he was the senior-most
dedicated Senior Advocate of the state.

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

Jagdeep Dhankhar
and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar have a daughter named Kamna.

From the 1990s,
Dhankhar’s legal practice moved to the Supreme Court. It was around the same
time when Jagdeep Dhankhar made his foray into electoral politics. He became a
member of Parliament from Jhunujhunu (Lok Sabha constituency) from 1989-91.
Subsequently, Dhankhar was elected as a member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)
from Rajasthan’s Kishangarh.

Jagdeep Dhankhar
was appointed governor of West Bengal in 2019. As governor, Dhankhar was in
constant conflict with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Which is why, Mamata
Banerjee’s decision to abstain from the Vice-Presidential elections and thereby
smoothening Dhankhar’s route to the office, was seen as surprising.  

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

Vice-Presidential elections began at the Parliament House at 10 am and went on till 5 pm. Dhankhar was up against Opposition’s consensus candidate Margaret Alva. Alva, who was previously associated with the Indian National Congress (INC), had served as governor of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. 

Elections began at 10 am and will go on until 5 pm. Results are expected later
in the evening. Against Dhankhar is the Opposition’s candidate Margaret Alva.
Alva, previously associated with the Indian National Congress and served as governor
of Rajasthan. She was also the very first female governor of Uttarakhand.

Alva was first
elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1974. She subsequently went on to serve three
consecutive six-year terms.