May 2016 Children's Group vice-presidential election
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A vice-presidential election was held in Children's Group on 29 May 2016 with the votes polled and counted and results being declared on the same date. Vice-president Bishnu Chetry had announced that he would not seek a consecutive fourth term in office. The returning officer in the election was prime minister Varuna Sriraya.
The presidential election was also held along with the vice-presidential election.
Background
The vice-presidential election was preponed to May 2016 and was held only two months from the March 2016 election.
The vice-presidential election, along with the presidential election, was held indirectly by the members of the executive council comprising of the top senior-most leaders of the nation - Varuna Sriraya, Tanishkaa Patranabish, Klarissa Sriraya, and Anoushkaa Patranabish. Each member's vote has the value of two votes with the total votes being eight. In order to win, a candidate is required to receive five votes.
Election
The election took place on 29 May 2016 and the votes were counted and the results were announced on the same day. Prime Minister Varuna Sriraya was the returning officer in the election.
Candidates
Two candidates had contested the vice-presidential election, both of whom were defeated during the March 2016 election.
| Portrait | Candidate | Positions held | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Portrait of Arnab Sil.png | Arnab Sil (born 2004) |
Minister of Finance (since April 2016) Minister of Child Welfare (2015-2016) |
Friends Society Freedom Party |
| File:Mridul AminP.jpg | Mridul Amin (born 2003) |
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (since April 2016) Minister of Finance (2015-2016) |
Friends Society Independent Party |
Finance minister Arnab Sil was declared as the joint candidate of the United Progressive Alliance and was supported by the Friends Society Secular Party, while the Friends Society Independent Party announced the parliamentary affairs minister Mohammad Mridul Amin would be its candidate in the election.
Results
| Candidate | Party | Electoral College votes |
% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnab Sil | Freedom Party | 6 | 75 | |
| Mridul Amin | Independent Party | 2 | 25 | |
Arnab Sil handsomely won the vice-presidential election securing six of the eight votes of the electoral college receiving 75% of the total votes while his rival candidate Mohammad Mridul Amin received only two votes, i.e. 25% of the total votes.
Aftermath
Vice-President-elect Arnab Sil who was the finance minister in the cabinet of prime minister Varuna Sriraya announced his resignation and was replaced by his vice-presidential predecessor Bishnu Chetry as the finance minister. Saikat Seal, the minister of state for home affairs was appointed as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Vice-President's Office replacing Manoj Chetry.
On 29 May 2016, Arnab Sil was sworn-in into office as the vice-president by officiating president and prime minister Varuna Sriraya. The brief ceremony was attended by Arnab Sil's younger brother Saikat Seal who was also sworn-in as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Vice-President's Office in the same ceremony. Also present in the ceremony was Anirban Phatowali, the minister of state (independent charge) in the prime minister's office.
