Vice President Election 2025: CP Radhakrishnan and B Sudershan Reddy Face Off in High-Stakes Contest

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, India witnessed the crucial election for the Vice President, with voting commencing at 10 am and results expected after 6 pm the same day. This election followed the early resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2025, due to health reasons.

The two main contenders for the post are Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, representing the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, backed by the Opposition's INDIA bloc. The election is conducted in Parliament where Members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha cast their votes.

The NDA holds a numerical advantage in Parliament, but internal party dynamics and abstentions from some regional parties may impact the final outcome. Notably, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Bharat Rashtra Samiti have reportedly abstained from voting, potentially affecting vote counts.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed confidence in the NDA candidate's victory, stating that the Opposition’s candidate lacks unified support and that the NDA expects to win with a substantial majority.

In an unprecedented organizational effort, the NDA assigned senior ministers to oversee groups of MPs based on their states, ensuring party discipline and turnout during the election. MPs from Uttar Pradesh congregated at Piyush Goyal's residence, while others assembled at residences of regional leaders such as Manohar Lal Khattar, Prahlad Joshi, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast the first vote in the election, signaling the high stakes and significance of the contest. The Election Commission of India supervised the process in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, Parliament House, with voting scheduled until 5 pm and counting to follow immediately.

The Vice President of India holds the position of the second-highest constitutional office, acting as ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and stepping in as acting President if needed, making this election a pivotal event in the country's political landscape.

As live updates from Parliament and media outlets have indicated, the outcome of this election will not only fill the constitutional vacancy but also reflect the political alignments and power plays within India's federal structure at this point in 2025.