Vice Presidential Election 2025: CP Radhakrishnan might Secure Victory Over Justice Sudershan Reddy
Voting Today in New Parliament House
India is set to elect its next Vice President today, Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in a contest between the NDA-backed CP Radhakrishnan and the opposition INDIA bloc’s joint candidate, retired Justice B Sudershan Reddy. The election, which involves members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, will be held from 10 AM to 5 PM, followed by vote counting at 6 PM. Results are expected to be declared later tonight.
A total of 781 MPs are eligible to vote — 542 from the Lok Sabha and 239 from the Rajya Sabha. As per electoral rules, each vote carries equal weight, and voters can indicate preferences, though ballots without ranked preferences are still considered valid.
Numbers Favour NDA in Tight Political Contest
The NDA appears to have a clear numerical advantage in this high-stakes election. Of the 781 total MPs, the NDA commands support from 425 members, while the INDIA alliance has the backing of 324. BJP alone contributes 342 MPs, and Congress has 126. Support from YSR Congress Party, which has 11 members in both Houses combined, further strengthens the NDA’s position.
With three key parties — Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Shiromani Akali Dal — choosing to abstain from voting, the effective electoral college is reduced to 767 MPs, setting the majority mark at 384 votes. These abstentions are expected to further consolidate the NDA’s upper hand.
BJD and BRS Stay Neutral, Impacting Opposition Prospects
In a significant development, both BJD and BRS announced they would abstain from voting. The BJD, once a supporter of NDA candidates, has taken a neutral stance this time, possibly due to the shifting political landscape in Odisha where the BJP recently unseated them from power. BRS, led by former Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao, also opted to remain on the sidelines. These decisions leave the opposition with fewer options to close the numerical gap.
Mixed Signals from Regional Parties
While Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has come out in support of the opposition candidate, the YSR Congress, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, has thrown its weight behind the NDA. The Shiromani Akali Dal, with three MPs, has also chosen not to participate. The opposition alliance is now relying on potential cross-voting, particularly from MPs in southern states such as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, hoping that individual conscience may sway the vote.
Smaller Parties Declare Support for Opposition
Adding a twist to the race, Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad and Rajasthan MP Hanuman Beniwal have publicly backed Justice Reddy. While these individual endorsements may not significantly alter the final tally, they reflect a growing sentiment within some regional pockets that challenges the larger political alignment.
Election Follows Resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar
This election has been necessitated by the resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 due to health concerns. In the 2022 Vice Presidential election, Dhankhar had secured 528 votes against opposition candidate Margaret Alva’s 182 — a decisive victory for the NDA.
All signs currently point to another win for the ruling alliance, with CP Radhakrishnan likely to be elected as India’s next Vice President, unless unexpected cross-voting shifts the balance at the last moment.
