MPs Cast Ballots in Historic Poll to Elect New Vice President Amid Tight Contest
Published on: September 09, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: New Delhi, India
On September 9, 2025, the election for India’s 17th Vice President witnessed robust participation, with an impressive 96% of Members of Parliament (MPs) casting their votes by 3 PM at the Parliament House in New Delhi. The high-stakes poll, necessitated by the resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health reasons, saw a direct contest between the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) nominee, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, and the opposition INDIA bloc’s candidate, former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy.
The voting, which commenced at 10 AM and continued until 5 PM, was conducted through a secret ballot system using proportional representation and a single transferable vote, as mandated by Article 66 of the Indian Constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the process by casting the first vote, followed by prominent leaders including Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge. The electoral college, comprising 781 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, underscored the significance of this election, with each vote carrying equal weight.
The NDA, with a numerical advantage of 425 MPs, expressed strong confidence in C.P. Radhakrishnan’s victory, with BJP leaders like Anurag Thakur and Chirag Paswan highlighting his achievements and anticipating cross-voting from opposition MPs. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc, backing B. Sudershan Reddy, emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional values, with leaders like Sachin Pilot and Priyanka Chaturvedi calling for a conscience-driven vote. Despite abstentions by parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the election remained closely watched due to the possibility of cross-voting in the secret ballot.
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With polling concluded, the counting of votes began at 6 PM, and the results are expected to be announced later this evening, determining India’s next Vice President and the new Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The high turnout reflects the democratic fervor and the critical role of this election in shaping India’s parliamentary landscape.
