New Delhi — The stage is set for a high-stakes electoral battle as India prepares to vote for its new Vice President on Tuesday, September 9. The contest pits the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate, Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, against the opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee, former Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy. The election was called nearly two months after the sudden resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, who cited health reasons for his departure.
The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of members from both houses of Parliament: the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The voting, conducted by secret ballot, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the counting of votes and declaration of the result scheduled for the same evening at 6 p.m.
The Candidates: A Closer Look
- CP Radhakrishnan: The NDA’s choice, CP Radhakrishnan, is a veteran BJP leader with deep roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideology. The 68-year-old, who hails from Tamil Nadu and belongs to the Goundar-Kongu Vellalar community, has previously served two terms as a Member of Parliament from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999. His recent appointments as Governor of Jharkhand, Telangana, and Maharashtra are seen as a move by the BJP to reward a soft-spoken, non-controversial figure.
- Sudershan Reddy: The opposition’s candidate, B. Sudershan Reddy, is a 79-year-old jurist from Telangana. As a former Supreme Court judge, Reddy is known for his landmark judgments, including his strong stance against the government’s handling of black-money cases and his ruling that declared the “Salwa Judum” militia in Chhattisgarh as unconstitutional. His appeal is rooted in his reputation as a defender of constitutional principles and judicial independence.
The Numbers Game: Why the NDA Has an Edge
The numbers are overwhelmingly in favor of the NDA. The total strength of the electoral college for the Vice-Presidential vote is 786 members. With 293 members in the Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP-led NDA coalition commands a total of 422 members, comfortably surpassing the 394 votes needed to win. This clear majority gives the ruling alliance a commanding position in the high-stakes election.
Why the Election Was Necessary
The Vice-Presidential election was held ahead of schedule following the abrupt resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. In a letter to the President, Dhankhar stated that he was stepping down from his post “to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice,” making his resignation effective immediately in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.