The stage is set for a significant democratic exercise in the heart of India’s Parliament as members from both Houses cast their votes on Tuesday to elect the nation’s 15th Vice President. The election pits the ruling NDA’s candidate, West Bengal Governor and veteran BJP leader C.P. Radhakrishnan, against the opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee, former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy.
The vice presidential election was necessitated after the former occupant of the post, Jagdeep Dhankhar, resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session citing “health concerns,” becoming only the third VP in Indian history to step down before the end of his term.
The Contenders: A Study in Contrast
The 2025 vice president election presents a fascinating “south vs south” face-off, highlighting the diverse political fabric of the country.
The NDA’s candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan, is a seasoned politician from Tamil Nadu. A former two-time Member of Parliament and a staunch RSS supporter, his nomination is seen as a reward for his long-standing dedication to the party’s ideology. His current role as Governor of Maharashtra adds administrative experience to his profile.
Challenging him is the INDIA bloc’s candidate, B. Sudershan Reddy. Hailing from Telangana, Justice Reddy is a respected jurist who served on the Supreme Court bench. His nomination by the opposition is a strategic move to field a candidate with an unimpeachable legal background and a non-partisan image, aiming to underscore the constitutional gravitas of the role.
The Process: How the VP is Chosen
Unlike the presidential election, the vice president of India is elected solely by an electoral college comprising all members of the Rajya Sabha (245) and the Lok Sabha (543), including those who are nominated. With current vacancies, the total strength of the electoral college is 788 MPs.
The voting process is meticulous. As per the Constitution, the election employs the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. Each MP marks their preferences for the candidates on a special ballot paper using a specific pen provided; using any other pen invalidates the vote. The ballots are secret, and showing a marked ballot to anyone is prohibited.
To win, a candidate must secure a predefined “quota,” which is 50% of the total valid votes plus one. If no one crosses this mark in the first count, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the remaining candidates based on the next preferences marked. This process continues until one candidate achieves the quota.
The Numbers Game: A Clear Advantage
The math overwhelmingly favours the ruling alliance. The NDA currently enjoys the support of approximately 422 MPs across both Houses. The INDIA bloc, along with other unaligned parties, falls short of this figure. Therefore, barring any unexpected cross-voting, C.P. Radhakrishnan is poised to secure a comfortable victory in the vp election 2025.
The new Vice President will not only be the second-highest constitutional functionary but will also assume the critical role of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, responsible for steering the proceedings of the Upper House with impartiality and decorum.
Date and Timeline for VP Election 2025
- Date of Election:Â Tuesday, September 9, 2025
- Voting Time:Â 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Vote Counting:Â From 6:00 PM onwards
- Result: The vice president election results are expected to be declared by Tuesday evening itself.
The nation now awaits the outcome of this election, which will define the leadership of the Rajya Sabha for the next five years.
