PM Modi Casts First Vote in 2025 Vice Presidential Election as NDA’s C P Radhakrishnan Faces INDIA Bloc’s Justice Reddy
Image via PTI
New Delhi, September 9 (TheTrendingPeople.com): The race for India’s next Vice President began on Tuesday morning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi casting the very first vote as polling opened at 10 am in Parliament. The election, widely viewed as a test of strength between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led INDIA bloc, will decide the successor to Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned from the post on July 21 citing health reasons.
A High-Stakes Contest
The NDA has fielded senior BJP leader and former Tamil Nadu state president C P Radhakrishnan as its candidate, while the INDIA bloc has nominated Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge. With the NDA holding numerical strength in both Houses of Parliament, the outcome appears tilted in Radhakrishnan’s favor, though the Opposition is hoping to close the gap with support from some independents.
The electoral college comprises 781 Members of Parliament (MPs)—542 from the Lok Sabha and 238 from the Rajya Sabha. With one Lok Sabha and six Rajya Sabha seats vacant, the majority mark is 391 votes.
According to estimates, the NDA enjoys the backing of 425 MPs, including support from the YSR Congress Party’s 11 members. The INDIA bloc commands the support of around 324 MPs, while the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) with 7 MPs and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) with 4 MPs have decided to abstain. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has one MP, has announced a boycott.
Modi Leads the Voting
Prime Minister Modi arrived at the Parliament complex accompanied by Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jitendra Singh, and L Murugan. He exercised his franchise at Room No. 101, Vasudha, the designated polling booth. Shortly after, he posted on X: “Voted in the 2025 Vice President election.”
The Prime Minister later departed for an aerial survey of flood-hit Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, underscoring the packed schedule of the day.
Among the early voters were senior leaders across party lines: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
Notably, the 92-year-old Deve Gowda arrived at the booth in a wheelchair, drawing attention for his resilience. In another striking moment, Gadkari and Kharge were seen walking hand-in-hand to the booth, signaling a rare display of camaraderie despite political rivalry.
Poll Day Strategy and Coordination
The NDA has mounted a well-organized campaign to ensure its majority translates into votes. Senior Union Ministers have been tasked with overseeing MPs from different regions—Kiren Rijiju for the Northeast, Prahlad Joshi for southern states, Piyush Goyal for Uttar Pradesh, and Nityanand Rai for Bihar. Others are supervising MPs from their respective regions.
In addition, the alliance has conducted mock polls and training sessions to prevent invalid ballots. NDA leaders said they are confident that “not a single vote will be wasted.” Counting is scheduled to begin at 6 pm, with results expected by 7 to 7:30 pm.
The INDIA bloc, meanwhile, held its own coordination meetings with MPs on the eve of polling. Leaders stressed unity and discipline to ensure every Opposition vote goes to their candidate, Justice Reddy.
Possible Swing Votes
Although the arithmetic appears to favor the NDA, the role of independents and smaller parties has become the subject of speculation. Three of the seven independent MPs in the Lok Sabha have yet to reveal their voting preferences. Meanwhile, RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal and Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad recently met the Opposition candidate, fueling chatter that they may lean towards the INDIA bloc.
Analysts note that even a small swing may not alter the result but could impact the final margin, which both camps want to project as a political statement.
Why the Election Matters
The Vice President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, playing a critical role in the functioning of the Upper House. The Vice President also stands first in the line of succession to the Presidency, should the office fall vacant.
The resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had assumed the role in August 2022, created an unusual mid-term vacancy. His exit came as a surprise and added urgency to the election, making it one of the most closely watched political events of 2025.
Background: Past Elections
Traditionally, the ruling alliance in Parliament has held an advantage in Vice Presidential polls. In 2017, M Venkaiah Naidu of the BJP won with 516 votes against Opposition candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi. In 2022, Jagdeep Dhankhar secured a comfortable victory with 528 votes against Margaret Alva.
This year’s election, however, carries greater political symbolism, coming at a time when the INDIA bloc is attempting to challenge the BJP’s dominance ahead of the 2026 general elections.
What Leaders Are Saying
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told reporters outside Parliament: “The NDA is united, and we are confident of a decisive victory for our candidate.”
On the other hand, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said: “This election is about principles. Even if the numbers are against us, it is important to present an alternative vision through our candidate.”
The Road Ahead
With polling set to continue until 5 pm, the focus will shift to the counting process, which is expected to begin promptly at 6 pm. Political observers suggest the final numbers will not only confirm the next Vice President but also reflect the current balance of power between the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The 2025 Vice Presidential election is more than a routine constitutional exercise—it is a snapshot of India’s current political landscape. While the NDA appears poised to secure victory for C P Radhakrishnan, the INDIA bloc’s spirited campaign underscores the Opposition’s determination to remain relevant. Beyond the numbers, the outcome will shape the functioning of the Rajya Sabha and offer a preview of the evolving battle lines as the nation heads toward the next general elections.