Raut Says Neutral Parties’ Stand Weakens BJP in VP Election

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut declared on Tuesday that the decision by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to remain neutral in the vice presidential election is a significant blow to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Raut emphasized that the Opposition INDIA bloc’s votes would remain united, setting the stage for a fiercely contested poll.

The election, held on Tuesday to choose India’s next vice president, pits NDA candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan against the INDIA bloc’s B. Sudershan Reddy. Voting took place in Parliament House from 10 am to 5 pm, with vote counting starting at 6 pm and results expected later in the evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to cast his vote, signaling the high stakes of the contest.

The BJD, led by Naveen Patnaik, and the BRS, headed by K. Chandrashekar Rao, announced their abstention from the poll, citing their commitment to maintaining equidistance from both the NDA and the INDIA bloc. Meanwhile, the SAD, led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, opted to boycott the election entirely, citing the central and state governments’ failure to address Punjab’s devastating floods. “These parties have historically supported the BJP, but their refusal to vote for the NDA candidate this time is a clear setback,” Raut asserted.

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Raut claimed that despite pressure from the NDA, these regional parties stood firm in their neutrality, dealing a political blow to the BJP’s hopes of a smooth victory. The Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana further criticized the BJP for scheduling the election during Pitrupaksha, a period considered inauspicious in Hindu tradition, especially given Radhakrishnan’s credentials as a veteran RSS member and staunch Hindutvavadi.

The vice presidential electoral college comprises 781 MPs—239 from the Rajya Sabha and 542 from the Lok Sabha—following vacancies that reduced the total strength from 788. The majority mark stands at 391 votes. The NDA holds a numerical advantage with 425 MPs, bolstered by support from the YSRCP, while the INDIA bloc commands 324 votes. However, the abstention of 12 MPs from BJD (7), BRS (4), and SAD (1) lowers the effective voting strength to 769, adjusting the majority mark to 386.

The secret ballot system and lack of party whips in the vice presidential election add an element of unpredictability, with past instances of cross-voting, such as in 2022 when some opposition MPs supported the NDA’s Jagdeep Dhankhar. Raut’s remarks underscore the Opposition’s determination to challenge the NDA’s dominance, framing the contest as a battle to protect constitutional values.

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