India will elect its 15th Vice President on September 9, with members of both Houses of Parliament set to cast their votes in a high-profile contest between the ruling NDA’s nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan and the Opposition INDIA bloc’s candidate, Justice (Retd.) B. Sudershan Reddy.
A Rare Mid-Term Vacancy
The election follows the unexpected resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in July, who stepped down citing health concerns. Dhankhar’s abrupt exit created a rare mid-term vacancy in the country’s second-highest constitutional office, which also functions as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
The Candidates
- C.P. Radhakrishnan: A senior BJP leader from Tamil Nadu and currently Governor of Maharashtra, Radhakrishnan has deep roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Known as a soft-spoken, non-controversial figure, he twice represented Coimbatore in the Lok Sabha (1998, 1999), making him the only BJP leader from Tamil Nadu to win the Lower House seat more than once. His nomination signals the BJP’s continued push to strengthen its southern presence.
- Justice (Retd.) B. Sudershan Reddy: Backed by the INDIA bloc, Reddy retired from the Supreme Court in 2011. His judicial career is marked by landmark rulings, including the judgment declaring the anti-Naxal Salwa Judum unconstitutional and verdicts critical of government inaction on black money. He previously served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and later became Goa’s first Lokayukta in 2013.
Notably, this is the first vice-presidential election featuring two candidates from southern India—Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu and Reddy from Telangana—placing regional parties in a sensitive position.
The Numbers Game
The electoral college for the vice-presidential election comprises 781 MPs (542 in the Lok Sabha, 239 in the Rajya Sabha, accounting for vacancies). The majority mark stands at 391 votes.
- The NDA enters with a clear advantage, commanding the support of about 422 MPs. With the YSR Congress Party (11 MPs) pledging support to Radhakrishnan, the ruling alliance’s tally is expected to cross 430 votes, comfortably above the victory threshold.
- The INDIA bloc is estimated to hold between 300–324 MPs, depending on turnout and minor party alignments. Even with support from independents, the bloc remains short of a majority.
Factoring in abstentions, analysts project the NDA candidate could secure 436–448 votes, compared to Reddy’s 320-plus, ensuring a decisive victory for Radhakrishnan—albeit by a smaller margin than Dhankhar’s 2022 landslide.
Abstentions and Independents
Several regional players have opted to stay out of the contest:
- The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), with seven MPs, has declared it will abstain, reaffirming its “equidistant” stance from both the NDA and INDIA bloc.
- The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), with four MPs, will also abstain, citing “farmers’ anguish” over fertilizer shortages in Telangana.
- Smaller parties and independents—including the Shiromani Akali Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party, and Mizoram’s Zoram People’s Movement—together control about 10 votes, which may marginally shift tallies but not the outcome.
Why the Election Matters
The Vice President plays a pivotal role in ensuring the functioning of the Rajya Sabha, particularly during periods of political turbulence. With Dhankhar’s assertive tenure fresh in memory, the next occupant of the office will be closely watched for their handling of parliamentary proceedings.
Election Process
The election is conducted under Article 66 of the Constitution and overseen by the Election Commission. MPs vote by secret ballot using the system of proportional representation through the single transferable vote. Unlike Lok Sabha or Assembly polls, EVMs are not used, as the process requires ranking candidates and redistributing preferences.
Looking Back: The 2022 Contest
In the last vice-presidential election (August 2022), Jagdeep Dhankhar defeated Margaret Alva by 528 votes to 182—the largest margin in three decades. This time, while the INDIA bloc enters with greater strength, the arithmetic still favours the NDA.
What to Expect on Voting Day
Polling will take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. in Parliament, with counting scheduled for the evening. Results are expected to be announced by 6 p.m.
While Radhakrishnan appears poised for victory, the election will also serve as a measure of the Opposition’s current parliamentary clout compared to three years ago.
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