India is set to elect its 15th Vice President today as members of both Houses of Parliament cast their votes in a high-stakes contest that has pitted the NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan against the Opposition INDIA Bloc’s candidate, former Supreme Court Justice B. Sudershan Reddy.
The voting began at 10 am and will continue until 5 pm, with results expected later in the evening. MPs are casting their votes through a secret ballot in Parliament.
Context of the Election
The election comes less than two months after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as Vice President on July 21 during the monsoon session of Parliament, citing health issues. Dhankhar had been elected in 2022 with a decisive victory against Opposition nominee Margaret Alva.
NDA’s Confidence and PM Modi’s Support
The ruling BJP-led NDA is confident of victory, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing strong backing for Radhakrishnan. In a post on X on Monday, Modi said:
"Participated in the NDA meeting in Delhi, attended by MPs across the NDA family. The candidature of Thiru CP Radhakrishnan has generated immense enthusiasm all across. People believe that he will be an excellent Vice President, who will enrich the office with his wisdom and insights."
The Numbers Game
Total MPs eligible to vote: 781
Lok Sabha: 542
Rajya Sabha: 239
NDA tally: 422 MPs
YSR Congress Party support: 11 MPs, taking NDA’s strength to 433 MPs
Opposition INDIA Bloc: Expected to secure around 320 votes
Independents & smaller parties: About 10 votes
Abstentions:
Biju Janata Dal (7 MPs in Rajya Sabha)
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (4 MPs in Rajya Sabha)
With 433 MPs behind him, Radhakrishnan appears to comfortably cross the majority mark of 391, giving the NDA a clear edge. However, the opposition has insisted the contest is not just about numbers but also about conscience.
Opposition’s Candidate: Justice (Retd.) B. Sudershan Reddy
The INDIA Bloc is backing Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge. Born on July 8, 1946, he began his career as an advocate in Hyderabad in 1971. Over his long legal career, he served as Government Pleader in the Andhra Pradesh High Court (1988–1990), Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court (2005), and later as a Judge of the Supreme Court (2007–2011) before retiring in July 2011.
NDA’s Candidate: CP Radhakrishnan
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, has been a BJP leader for over four decades. He served as Governor of Jharkhand (Feb 2023–July 2024) before being appointed the 24th Governor of Maharashtra in July 2024. His long political career and loyalty to the BJP have made him one of the party’s veteran leaders.
What’s at Stake?
The Vice President of India also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, making the role crucial for the government’s legislative strategy. While numbers give Radhakrishnan a decisive edge, the official result, expected by tonight, will confirm whether he secures an outright win or if the Opposition’s Reddy manages to pull off an upset.
