India is poised to elect its 15th Vice President today as 781 members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha vote to choose between NDA-backed Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan and INDIA bloc’s former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy. The election, triggered by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation two months ago, will take place from 10 am to 5 pm in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, Parliament House, with results announced later today.
CP Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader, served as a two-time MP from Coimbatore under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government and as Jharkhand Governor before becoming Maharashtra Governor in July 2024. Sudershan Reddy, a respected jurist, was a Supreme Court judge from 2007 to 2011 and briefly Goa’s first Lokayukta. He gained prominence for declaring Chhattisgarh’s Salwa Judum unconstitutional, underscoring his commitment to justice.
The electoral college, consisting of 233 elected and 12 nominated Rajya Sabha members, plus 543 Lok Sabha members, totals 788, though seven vacant seats reduce the count to 781. Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody will oversee the process, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi casting the first vote alongside Punjab and Haryana MPs.
Also Read: Stage Set! Its CP Radhakrishnan Versus Sudershan Reddy in High-Stakes VP Poll
The NDA, with 422 members including allies like JD(U), TDP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, supports Radhakrishnan, surpassing the 391-vote victory threshold. The INDIA bloc, backing Reddy, has rallied Congress, DMK, JMM, RJD, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, TMC, Left parties, AAP, and AIMIM. Parties like Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Biju Janata Dal, and Shiromani Akali Dal have chosen to abstain, potentially weakening the opposition.
Despite the NDA’s numerical advantage, the INDIA bloc aims to challenge Radhakrishnan robustly, framing the election as a defense of democratic principles. The Vice President, also the ex officio Rajya Sabha Chairman, receives a ₹4 lakh monthly salary and benefits like free accommodation, medical care, travel, security, and staff.
As the nation awaits the outcome, this election will play a critical role in shaping India’s political and constitutional landscape.
Also Read: BJP Unfazed by Dhinakaran’s NDA Exit