India is voting today to elect its 15th Vice President after the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. The contest has narrowed to two candidates — CP Radhakrishnan from the NDA and former Supreme Court judge B Sudarshan Reddy from the INDIA alliance.
Voting began at 10 AM inside Parliament House, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi casting the first ballot. By evening, results will be announced, deciding who takes charge as the second-highest constitutional authority after the President.
Why This Election Matters
The Vice President serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a role that requires balancing parliamentary debates. With Dhankhar stepping down citing health reasons despite two years left in office, the election has gained political significance.
Both NDA and INDIA bloc are treating the vote as a strength test. Beyond constitutional importance, it has turned into a political battle showcasing alliance unity and influence.
Numbers Favor NDA but Opposition Hopes for Cross-Voting
The arithmetic favors the NDA. In the Lok Sabha, NDA holds 293 MPs, with BJP alone contributing 240. Allies like TDP, JDU, Shiv Sena, and LJP add to this tally. In the Rajya Sabha, NDA commands 125 seats, with BJP contributing 102. Support from YSRCP’s seven MPs raises the total further.
Together, NDA is expected to secure around 434 votes against the majority mark of 391. INDIA bloc, however, hopes to gather 320 votes and relies on possible cross-voting. Opposition leaders argue that conscience voting could tilt numbers unexpectedly.
High-Profile Voting
Prominent leaders from both sides participated early. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi cast their votes. Senior BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, G Kishan Reddy, Giriraj Singh, and Ravneet Singh Bittu also exercised their franchise.
Ministers like Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, and Arjun Ram Meghwal accompanied the Prime Minister during the process. The voting will continue till 5 PM, followed by counting at 6 PM.
NDA’s Strategy of Man-to-Man Marking
To prevent cross-voting, NDA implemented a detailed plan called “man-to-man marking.” MPs were divided into groups, each under a senior minister. They gathered at ministerial residences for breakfast before proceeding together to vote.
For example, MPs from Uttar Pradesh assembled at Piyush Goyal’s residence, while those from Bihar and Jharkhand gathered under Nityanand Rai. Southern MPs were coordinated by Prahlad Joshi. This system was designed to minimize confusion and ensure bloc voting.
Opposition’s Mock Voting and Instructions
The INDIA alliance conducted a mock voting session a day earlier. Leaders instructed MPs to be cautious, as several votes were declared invalid in previous elections. By rehearsing the procedure, the opposition hoped to avoid technical errors and secure every possible vote.
Candidate Backgrounds
CP Radhakrishnan, NDA’s nominee, hails from Tamil Nadu’s Gounder community. He has a long association with the RSS and BJP. Previously, he served as Governor of Jharkhand in 2023 and was later shifted to Maharashtra in 2024. Unlike his predecessor Jagdeep Dhankhar, he avoided controversial political remarks while serving as Governor.
B Sudarshan Reddy, the INDIA alliance candidate, is a retired Supreme Court judge from Telangana. Known for his judicial work, his nomination highlights the opposition’s strategy of fielding a candidate with non-political credentials.
Support and Endorsements
While NDA relies on allies and YSRCP support, INDIA alliance has AIMIM and AAP backing. Sudarshan Reddy also met smaller parties like RLP and Azad Samaj Party, seeking their votes.
However, some regional parties chose to abstain. BJD, SAD, and BRS announced they would not participate, citing regional issues. This decision reduced the total electorate from 781 to 770, lowering the majority mark to 386.
Campaign Themes and Attacks
The BJP projected Radhakrishnan as a disciplined leader representing nationalist values. Leaders like Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked Sudarshan Reddy for meeting RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, calling it hypocrisy. They questioned his moral authority to speak about saving the nation’s soul.
Opposition parties framed the election as a battle to defend the Constitution. Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai urged even NDA MPs to vote in favor of the INDIA candidate for democracy’s sake.
Symbolism of the Contest
Both candidates hail from southern India, Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu and Reddy from Telangana. Observers note that this reflects the growing importance of the region in national politics. The resignation of Dhankhar mid-term added urgency, as Vice President elections are usually straightforward.
With voting by secret ballot, MPs are free to vote as they wish, since whip and anti-defection laws do not apply. This makes every vote unpredictable and keeps political observers engaged until counting ends.
Public Statements During Voting
Rahul Gandhi returned from Malaysia to participate in the election. His presence was projected as a symbol of INDIA bloc unity. Opposition MPs argued that their candidate represents values, not numbers.
On the other hand, BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh and Prahlad Joshi insisted that numbers were strongly in favor of Radhakrishnan. Kiren Rijiju reminded MPs about the importance of casting valid votes, citing past elections where spoiled ballots created setbacks.
Akali Dal and Independent Voices
The Shiromani Akali Dal chose to boycott the election, citing anger over the central government’s handling of Punjab’s floods. Independent MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa also abstained, criticizing the government’s “double standards” toward Punjab. These developments added political narratives but did not alter the arithmetic significantly.
Counting and Expected Outcome
Voting will conclude by 5 PM, and counting will begin at 6 PM. NDA leaders predict Radhakrishnan’s victory margin could rise to 125 beyond the majority mark. The party sees this as a demonstration of dominance ahead of upcoming state polls.
Opposition leaders accept that the numbers favor NDA but hope cross-voting narrows the gap. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor admitted that the numbers are stacked against them, hinting that Radhakrishnan’s win is almost certain.
The Vice President Election 2025 is more than a constitutional exercise. For NDA, it is about consolidating dominance with a clear majority. For the INDIA alliance, it is about showing resistance and moral strength.
As the evening progresses, the results will reveal whether CP Radhakrishnan secures a sweeping victory or B Sudarshan Reddy manages to reduce the gap. Either way, the contest has already underlined the growing role of regional leaders, alliance politics, and the continuing battle for influence in Parliament.
India now waits for the final announcement to know who will serve as the 15th Vice President.
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