India Poised to Elect New Vice-President Today; NDA’s Radhakrishnan is Frontrunner
New Delhi – The Parliament of India is set to elect the nation’s 15th Vice-President today, with polling scheduled to take place throughout the day. The contest pits the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan, a seasoned politician and former Governor, against the unified opposition’s nominee, Sudershan Reddy.
Given the NDA’s commanding majority in the electoral college, which comprises all members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Radhakrishnan is widely considered the firm favorite to succeed the incumbent Vice-President. The Vice-President also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, making this a crucial post for the government’s legislative agenda in the upper house.
The Candidates:
C.P. Radhakrishnan (NDA): A veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan has a long and distinguished political career. He has served two terms as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, representing Coimbatore. Most recently, he held the position of Governor of Jharkhand, a role from which he resigned to contest the Vice-Presidential election. His nomination is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to strengthen its presence and outreach in Southern India. Radhakrishnan is known for his organizational skills and his deep roots in the party’s ideology.
Sudershan Reddy (Opposition): The opposition parties have put forward Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate. A respected figure, Reddy has a background in law and has been a prominent voice on various national issues. His candidacy is backed by a coalition of parties aiming to present a united challenge to the ruling NDA. The opposition’s campaign has focused on safeguarding constitutional values and providing a counterbalance to the executive.
The Electoral Math:
The outcome of the election is largely a numbers game. The electoral college for the Vice-Presidential election consists of 788 members – 543 from the Lok Sabha and 245 from the Rajya Sabha. The NDA coalition, led by the BJP, holds a significant majority across both houses. This numerical superiority gives their candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan, a clear and decisive edge.
Political analysts have indicated that the opposition’s primary goal with Reddy’s candidacy is not necessarily to win, but to register a strong and unified ideological opposition to the government’s policies and to consolidate their alliance for future political battles.
The Process:
Members of Parliament will cast their votes today within the Parliament House complex. The voting is conducted through a secret ballot using a special pen. To ensure a smooth and accurate process, several training and orientation sessions have been held for the MPs to familiarize them with the specific procedures of the Vice-Presidential election.
The counting of votes will commence this evening, shortly after the polling concludes. By late evening, the returning officer will formally announce the results, and India will know its next Vice-President. The new Vice-President is expected to be sworn into office in the coming days, ready to assume the role of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the upcoming parliamentary sessions.
