Polling Underway for Vice-Presidential Election

New Delhi, september 09, 2025: Polling now underway the process for electing India’s next Vice-President in Parliament. The election, necessitated by the recent resignation of former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, is being conducted today, with votes being cast by Members of Parliament from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The first vote was cast by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the formal start of the day’s proceedings.

The election sees a direct contest between C. P. Radhakrishnan, the nominee of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and B. Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge who has been put forward as the candidate by the opposition INDIA bloc. Voting is being conducted through a secret ballot system, with a special pen being used for marking preferences. Members are not bound by a party whip, meaning they can cast their vote based on their own conscience; however, in practice, a high degree of party loyalty is expected.

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The electoral college for this election comprises all 781 Members of Parliament, including both elected and nominated members from the two Houses. State legislative assemblies are not included in this process. The voting is being conducted in a specific room within the Parliament House, with a Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers appointed to oversee the smooth conduct of the polling. Security measures have been put in place to ensure that the process is carried out without any irregularities.

This election is being seen as a crucial test of political strength, even though the numbers are widely believed to be in favor of the NDA’s candidate. The National Democratic Alliance holds a commanding majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, giving their candidate a significant numerical advantage. Support from non-aligned parties, such as the YSR Congress Party, is also expected to be extended to the NDA nominee, further solidifying their position. On the other hand, the INDIA bloc has been working to consolidate its members and has also appealed for votes based on ideological considerations, framing the election as a battle for constitutional principles.

The polling is scheduled to continue throughout the day, with the counting of votes expected to begin in the evening, after the polls close. The results are anticipated to be announced later tonight, following the completion of the counting process. The election is being closely watched by political analysts and citizens alike, as it will determine who will occupy the second-highest constitutional office in the country.