India will witness a key political battle on Tuesday, September 9, as the election for the Vice President of India takes place. The contest is between National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate CP Radhakrishnan and the opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee, former Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy.
The election comes nearly two months after Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation due to health reasons.
Election Schedule and Voting Process
Voting will begin at 10 AM on Tuesday and continue until 5 PM. Members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will cast their votes. The counting of votes will start at 6 PM on the same day.
The electoral college for this election includes:
- 233 elected members of the Rajya Sabha (five seats are vacant)
- 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
- 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha (one seat is vacant)
This brings the total to 786 members. The winning candidate must secure at least 394 votes.
Numbers in Favour of NDA
The NDA has a clear numerical advantage. In the 542-member Lok Sabha, the NDA enjoys the support of 293 members. In the Rajya Sabha, out of 240 effective members, the ruling alliance has the backing of 129 members.
Overall, the NDA commands support from 422 members, comfortably above the required majority mark of 394, and this gives CP Radhakrishnan a strong edge in the election.
Why the Election Was Necessary
The election was necessitated after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as Vice President on July 21. He cited health concerns and medical advice for his decision. His resignation was submitted in line with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.
Previously served as the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022, Dhankhar has been the Vice President since 2022.
Who is NDA Candidate CP Radhakrishnan?
The NDA’s candidate, CP Radhakrishnan, is currently the Governor of Maharashtra. At 68, he is an experienced BJP leader and an OBC from the Goundar-Kongu Vellalar community in Tamil Nadu.
Radhakrishnan is known as a soft-spoken, non-controversial leader with deep roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He is the only BJP leader from Tamil Nadu to have been elected to the Lok Sabha twice, in 1998 and 1999. He assumed office as Maharashtra’s governor on July 31, 2024.
Who is INDIA Bloc Candidate Sudershan Reddy?
The opposition’s INDIA bloc has nominated B. Sudershan Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge, to challenge Radhakrishnan.
Reddy, 79, retired in July 2011 after a notable judicial career. He is remembered for landmark rulings, including declaring the Chhattisgarh government-backed militia Salwa Judum as unconstitutional. He also criticized the Union government for its weak handling of black-money investigations.
