The counting of votes for India’s 15th Vice President commenced at 6:00 PM in the new Parliament building, following a robust 98% voter turnout among 781 eligible MPs. The election, overseen by Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody as Returning Officer, features a direct contest between the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate, Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, and the opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee, former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy.
The high-stakes poll, necessitated by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on July 21, 2025, citing health reasons, saw brisk voting from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with results anticipated later this evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the voting, casting his ballot first, followed by prominent figures including Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, and Nitin Gadkari, as well as opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge. Notable moments included 92-year-old former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda voting via wheelchair and Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, under police custody, casting his vote after court permission.
The secret ballot system, free from party whips, allows MPs to vote independently, raising the possibility of cross-voting despite the NDA’s numerical advantage with 425 MPs against the opposition’s 324, with the majority mark at 391.
Reddy framed the election as an “ideological fight” to uphold the Constitution, expressing gratitude for public support, while NDA leaders like Gajendra Singh Shekhawat exuded confidence in Radhakrishnan’s victory. Regional parties such as BJD, BRS, and Shiromani Akali Dal abstained, citing local issues, which may bolster the NDA’s edge. The electoral college, comprising 543 Lok Sabha and 245 Rajya Sabha members (including 12 nominated), was reduced to 781 due to six Rajya Sabha and one Lok Sabha vacancies.
The outcome, expected to shape India’s political landscape, will determine the successor to Dhankhar, with the new Vice President set to be sworn in soon after the results are announced.
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