High-Stakes Vice Presidential Election Underway: NDA’s Radhakrishnan Poised for Victory
India’s Vice Presidential election is underway, with the NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan holding a clear lead over the INDIA bloc's B Sudershan Reddy. The numbers favor the NDA.
An illustration depicting the political divide in the Indian Parliament, with the NDA and INDIA bloc candidates representing their respective alliances in the Vice Presidential election.
Today, India will choose its next vice president in a contest that seems to be a straight-up numbers game despite its high political drama. The INDIA bloc's candidate, former Supreme Court justice B Sudershan Reddy, is running against CP Radhakrishnan, the nominee of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Results are anticipated soon after the polling, which is held in Parliament House, ends this evening.
The NDA is favoured by the numbers.
All 781 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha make up the electoral college for the vice president. A candidate must receive more than 391 votes in order to win. With roughly 427 votes, the NDA has a sizable lead. a total supported by important allies such as the YSR Congress Party.
The opposition INDIA bloc, meanwhile, receives about 315 votes. The opposition alliance still has a significant deficit even though its numerical position in Parliament is better than it was in the 2022 election. A number of regional parties, such as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), have decided to abstain from voting, which essentially benefits the NDA and further complicates the situation.
Examining the CP Radhakrishnan (NDA) Candidates: Radhakrishnan is a seasoned politician with more than 40 years of experience who has strong ties to the BJP. Coimbatore native and two-time Lok Sabha MP, he has served in a number of important capacities, most notably as Maharashtra's governor since July 2024. He is a solid and seasoned choice for the NDA because of his long political and administrative career.
B Sudershan Reddy (INDIA Bloc): This eminent jurist was nominated by the opposition. He is renowned for his dedication to constitutional principles and was a judge on the Supreme Court of India from 2007 to 2011. He has been positioned by the INDIA bloc as a candidate who can maintain the office's integrity.
Why Hold Another Election?
After former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar abruptly resigned in July, the election was called earlier than expected. Not just the remaining portion of the previous term, but the entire five-year term will be served by his successor.
The new Vice President will also assume the crucial role of the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, responsible for maintaining order and procedure in the Upper House of Parliament. The election process, conducted via a secret ballot with a single transferable vote, is overseen by the Election Commission.
