Key Points:
- NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan holds commanding lead with 437 expected votes against INDIA bloc’s B Sudarshan Reddy’s 323 votes
- Opposition claims BJP nervous after considering election “one-sided,” calling emergency MP meetings for 6-hour discussions
- BJD and BRS abstention reduces total electorate to 770 MPs, setting majority mark at 386 votes
- Election scheduled for September 9, 2025, following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s health-related resignation in July
- SP MP suggests secular NDA allies may cross-vote for former Supreme Court judge Sudarshan Reddy
New Delhi: Political temperatures are rising in New Delhi as India prepares for the Vice Presidential election on September 9, with opposition parties mounting an aggressive campaign despite NDA’s commanding numerical advantage in the parliamentary contest.
BJP’s Comfortable Math Faces Opposition Challenge
The ruling National Democratic Alliance enjoys a substantial lead with approximately 437 MPs supporting Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, well above the required majority of 386 votes in the 770-member effective electorate. The NDA’s strength includes 293 Lok Sabha members and 129 Rajya Sabha members, supplemented by expected support from YSR Congress Party’s 11 MPs.
However, the opposition INDIA bloc, backing former Supreme Court judge B Sudarshan Reddy, claims their intensive lobbying efforts have rattled the ruling party’s confidence. The contest has been necessitated following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation in July citing health concerns – making this the first early VP election since 1987.
SP Claims BJP Holding Emergency Strategy Sessions
Samajwadi Party MP Virendra Singh alleged on Monday that the BJP, initially considering the election a “one-sided fight,” is now conducting urgent consultations with their parliamentarians. “The BJP is now sweating. Somewhere they are scared, so they are calling their MPs for 6 hours and talking to them personally,” Singh claimed during a press interaction.
The SP leader suggested that many NDA allies who won elections with secular votes are now reconsidering their position, given Radhakrishnan’s RSS background. “Many NDA allies who are with the government will vote for the INDIA candidate in the Vice Presidential election,” Singh predicted, though he provided no specific numbers to support this assertion.
Cross-Voting Precedent Raises Opposition Hopes
The 2022 Vice Presidential election saw significant cross-voting, with Jagdeep Dhankhar securing 528 votes (74.37%) the biggest VP election victory margin in three decades. This included unexpected support from parties like BJD and YSR Congress, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of secret ballot voting.
The opposition is banking on similar cross-voting patterns, particularly from regional parties concerned about their secular credentials. Singh emphasized that Sudarshan Reddy’s judicial background and non-partisan image could appeal to MPs seeking to distance themselves from communal politics.
Strategic Abstentions Reshape Electoral Math
Both Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal and Telangana’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi have announced their decision to abstain from voting, reducing the total electorate from 786 to 770 MPs. The BJD’s abstention is particularly significant given their past support for NDA candidates in presidential elections.
BRS working president KT Rama Rao confirmed their party’s four Rajya Sabha members would stay away from polling, following a meeting chaired by former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. The abstentions lower the majority threshold but don’t substantially alter the NDA’s advantage.
Opposition Highlights Candidate Credentials
INDIA bloc leaders are aggressively promoting Sudarshan Reddy’s qualifications, emphasizing his judicial experience and non-partisan background. “Our candidate is an expert in law and he is not associated with any party. He has been a judge and has worked all his life only to deliver justice,” Virendra Singh stated.
The opposition narrative focuses on positioning their candidate as someone who could “end the anarchy in the House and the country” – an apparent reference to recent parliamentary disruptions and political polarization.
Regional Dynamics and Vote Projections
According to electoral analysis, Radhakrishnan is expected to lead in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan, while Reddy may secure more votes from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Punjab.
This represents the first Vice Presidential contest where both leading candidates hail from southern states – Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu and Reddy from Telangana – reflecting the region’s growing political significance.
Criticism of Government Priorities
The SP MP used the occasion to criticize Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy focus, particularly regarding recent diplomatic engagements with the United States. “When America smiled, PM Modi’s face lit up. Has he started considering America as God?” Singh questioned, also criticizing the government’s response to Punjab’s flood situation.
Leadership Questions in Opposition Ranks
On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s absence during his Malaysia visit, Singh suggested that “in the absence of Rahul Gandhi, there are many leaders who can lead the India alliance,” with apparent reference to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, though he declined to name anyone specifically.
Election Day Procedures
Voting will take place on September 9 from 10 AM to 5 PM in Parliament House’s room F-101, with counting beginning at 6 PM the same day. The secret ballot system allows for potential surprises, though NDA’s numerical strength makes Radhakrishnan the clear frontrunner despite opposition claims of an upset in the making.
