Poll for Vice President's post on August 10

India would have a new Vice President on August 10, who would take over from Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on August 18.

Amidst the din of campaigning for Presidential poll in which Shekhawat is a candidate, the Election Commission today announced the schedule of the Vice-Presidential election.

The Commission has fixed the date of polling and also the announcement of the result on August 10.

As per the election schedule, the notification for the poll would be issued on July 9. The last date for filing of nominations is July 23, while the scrutiny takes place the next day. The last date for withdrawal is July 26, very close to the presidential poll on July 19.

Though traditionally the election of Vice President has been a low key affair, this time it is likely to turn into a hot event given the feverish pitch of the presidential contest.

The Vice President is also the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

The Electoral College for the poll consists of a total of 790 MPs ""543 from the Lok Sabha and 233 from the Rajya Sabha. Twelve nominated members from the Rajya Sabha and two from the Lok Sabha are also eligible to vote.

The secretary general of the Rajya Sabha has been appointed as the returning officer for the poll.

While the ruling UPA alliance along with the Left parties and the BSP has the strength to see their candidate elected as the Vice President, the BJP is unlikely to let this post go unchallenged.

Although Congress leaders have been claiming that they were too busy handling the campaign of their presidential candidate Pratibha Patil to discuss the Vice-Presidential poll, Left sources said the formal talks between them to select a candidate would start next week.

The sources said that during the exercise for presidential polls, they were given to understand that the Congress was ready to concede the Vice President's post to its partners.