Vice President Election Today: CP Radhakrishnan vs Sudershan Reddy In Race; Know Voting Time, Process & All

The race for India's 15th Vice President is set to unfold on September 9, with members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha casting their votes. The candidates are CP Radhakrishnan, representing the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and B. Sudershan Reddy, backed by the opposition INDIA bloc. The poll follows the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar two months ago, and results will be declared on the same day.

Vice President Election Today: CP Radhakrishnan Vs Sudershan Reddy; Who Will Win?

CP Radhakrishnan, representing the ruling NDA, has a strong political background. He served as a two-time MP from Coimbatore during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure and was previously the Governor of Jharkhand before becoming Maharashtra's Governor in July 2024. On the other hand, Sudershan Reddy, supported by the opposition INDIA bloc, is a respected jurist known for his landmark judgments during his time as a Supreme Court judge from 2007 to 2011.

Vice President Election Details and Voting Process

The Vice-Presidential election will occur on September 9 in Room No. F-101 at Vasudha, Parliament House. Voting will start at 10 am and end at 5 pm. PC Mody, Secretary General of Rajya Sabha, will oversee the election process as the returning officer. The result will be declared after voting concludes on the same day.

The electoral college responsible for electing the Vice President also elects India's President. It comprises 233 elected members of Rajya Sabha, 12 nominated members of Rajya Sabha, and 543 elected members of Lok Sabha. Currently, there are 781 members due to vacancies in both houses.

How Many Votes Does the Winning Candidate Need To Become Vice President?

The NDA candidate enjoys backing from several parties within its alliance, including JD(U), TDP, Shiv Sena, NCP, among others. Meanwhile, Sudershan Reddy has support from opposition parties like Congress, DMK, JMM, RJD, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction, TMC and Left parties. AAP and AIMIM have also pledged their support for him.

Some parties have chosen not to participate in voting. These include Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Odisha's Biju Janata Dal and Shiromani Akali Dal. The victory threshold for this election stands at 391 votes out of a total quorum of 781 members.

Vice President's Salary and Perks

Despite holding India's second-highest constitutional office, the Vice President does not receive a regular salary but earns compensation as ex officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. This role provides a monthly salary of Rs 4 lakh along with various perks such as free accommodation and travel benefits.

The BJP-led NDA currently holds significant support with 293 MPs in Lok Sabha and 129 members in Rajya Sabha. With backing from 422 members overall, they comfortably surpass the required majority mark needed for victory in this election.