The election for India’s next Vice President is being held on Tuesday, September 9, with voting scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the New Parliament Building in New Delhi.
The contest is between NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan and INDIA bloc candidate, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.
The post carries significant political weight, as the Vice President also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a role that is central to the functioning of Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to cast the first vote this morning. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ram Mohan Naidu, along with Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, have been appointed as official election agents.
Also Read : BJD MPs to skip voting in vice-presidential polls
Counting of votes will begin at 6 p.m., with results likely to be declared later in the evening.
The electoral college for the Vice Presidential election comprises 781 members, including 542 elected members of the Lok Sabha and 239 members of the Rajya Sabha, which includes 233 elected members and 12 nominated ones, with six vacancies across both Houses. All votes carry equal weight and polling is conducted through a secret ballot in line with parliamentary procedure. The majority mark required to win is 391 votes.
The Vice President’s post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, citing health concerns, on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. His unexpected departure created a leadership void in the Upper House, adding further importance to Tuesday’s election.
Political observers are expecting a closely watched contest, though the NDA is considered to have a numerical edge in the combined strength of the two Houses. Attention remains fixed on whether there will be any cross-voting and the outcome later this evening.
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