My bid to become Vice President of India

The Vice President has resigned. Health reasons, they say. I wish him a swift recovery. In India, only V. V. Giri (1969), R. Venkataraman(1984), and now Jagdeep Dhankhar have exited mid term. A rare constitutional moment. The seat remains vacant until the electoral college gathers. As soon as possible, they say.

In the US, only John C. Calhoun(1832) and Spiro Agnew (1973) ever stepped down from the post. Calhoun left to sharpen his arguments in the Senate. Agnew exited under indictment, accidentally enabling Gerald Ford. In Uruguay, Jorge Sapelli walked out in 1973 opposed to dictatorship. Each case redefined the office itself.

The position now drifts in abstraction. A role between utility and symbolism. Some held it with gravity. Others disappeared behind protocol. India lacks an automatic mechanism to patch the void. Which means, for a brief window, the role stands open. Empty offices attract architecture.

I would now like to volunteer for the Vice Presidency. There is just one small problem: I am not 35, minimum age required under Article 66 of the Constitution.

That minor constitutional detail disqualifies me. Otherwise, I was entirely prepared to preside over Rajya Sabha sessions with a steady hand and an expression of quiet resolve. I had already imagined my inaugural address: brief, grammatically correct, and suspiciously well-edited. I even prepared myself for MPs calling it GPT written. Haha.

So this is less a nomination, more like a declaration of interest. When the time comes and the Constitution finally catches up with my birth certificate, I will be ready. Until then, I remain fully available for unofficial shadow training: mock protocols, imaginary oath-taking, and simulated institutional management.

Narendra Modiji, are you listening? A middle class boy as the Youngest VP of the country.

Calhoun redefined federalism. Sapelli made a moral stand. You could turn Rajya Sabha on its head with an intent and foresight.

Meanwhile, I'll acquire everything other than being on your side. In approximately 2.5 years, give or take.

Disclaimer - As a former UPSC aspirant, I hold the constitutional office of the Vice President in the highest regard and view it as a position of privilege, responsibility and significance. This post is intended only as a light reflection on recent developments. It carries no malicious intent or disrespect toward the office of Hon'ble VP or Hon'ble PM :)