Process for Prez election kicks off

Kovind’s term ends on July 24

The process to elect the

16th President of India began on Thursday after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the presidential election 2022. The term of the sitting President, Ram Nath Kovind, ends on July

24, 2022, and the process of election for the new President must be complete before that so that the new President can be sworn in by July 25.

Making the announcement, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the notification for the President’s election will be issued on June 15, the last date for filing nomination is June 29, and the election, if needed, will be held on July 18. Counting of votes, if needed, will be done on July 21 in New Delhi.

The scrutiny of nominations will take place on June 30 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be July 2. The EC has said that no political party will be allowed to issue any kind of whip for this election.

As per the Article 54, the

President is elected by an Electoral College consisting of elected MPs of both Houses of Parliament and elected MLAs of the Legislative Assemblies of all states, including NCT of Delhi and Puducherry. This year the total number of electors for the presidential election will be 4,809, out of which 776 are Members of Parliament and 4,033 are Members of Legislative Assemblies.

The Rajya Sabha secretary-general will be the returning officer for this election, which will be held in Parliament House in New Delhi and in the premises of State Legislative Assemblies, including NCT of Delhi and UT of Puducherry. The commission decided to appoint assistant returning officers in all state capitals, for making arrangements for conducting the poll.