Vice-Presidential Election 2025: NDA’s Radhakrishnan All Set for a Comfortable Victory Over INDIA Bloc’s Reddy

New Delhi, September 8:
On Tuesday, India’s lawmakers will cast their votes to elect the nation’s 15th Vice President, setting up a clear contest between the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) nominee, senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, and the INDIA bloc’s choice, retired Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy.

While the opposition has attempted to pitch the contest as a clash of ideologies, the numerical strength in Parliament leaves little suspense over the outcome: the NDA is headed for a decisive win.

The Numbers: NDA Starts Ahead

The Vice President is chosen by an electoral college consisting of all members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated MPs. With the total strength of the Houses hovering around 781–788 members, the winning candidate requires just under 390 votes to secure the post.

The NDA has an estimated 422–425 MPs firmly under its fold. Its prospects received a further boost when the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), with 11 MPs, pledged support to Radhakrishnan. This places the NDA’s effective tally at around 436 votes—well above the halfway mark.

The arithmetic is further tilted in the NDA’s favour by strategic abstentions. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have chosen to stay away from the contest, lowering the effective voting strength and thereby cementing Radhakrishnan’s advantage.

On the other side, the INDIA bloc—an alliance of Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, RJD, Left parties, and others—can count on roughly 324 MPs. Even with perfect coordination and full turnout, the bloc falls short by over 100 votes, leaving Justice Reddy with little more than a symbolic platform.

The Candidates: Contrasting Journeys

C. P. Radhakrishnan: The Loyalist

At 67, Radhakrishnan represents the old guard of the BJP. A two-time Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore, he is deeply rooted in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) tradition. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a party loyalist, serving in multiple organisational roles and carrying out the BJP’s southern strategy.

His appointment as the Governor of Maharashtra in 2023 was seen as a recognition of his service, and his nomination for the Vice President’s post is being read as the BJP’s attempt to send a signal to southern states—where the party is working to expand its footprint—while rewarding a veteran from Tamil Nadu.

Justice B. Sudershan Reddy: The Jurist

At 75, Justice Reddy is remembered as a respected jurist who retired from the Supreme Court in 2011. Among his most prominent rulings was the 2011 judgment that declared Salwa Judum unconstitutional, a verdict that resonated across debates on human rights and state power in conflict zones.

By fielding Reddy, the INDIA bloc has sought to frame the election as a contest between political power and constitutional conscience. Yet, with no political experience or base, his candidacy underscores the opposition’s limited options more than its electoral strength.

The Election Process

The Vice-Presidential election will be conducted via a secret ballot using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. MPs are required to mark their preferences (1, 2, 3, etc.), and votes are counted until a candidate secures the quota.

Though the process leaves room for cross-voting, the NDA’s numerical superiority is such that even significant defections from either side are unlikely to alter the final outcome.

Why the Vice Presidency Matters

Beyond its ceremonial profile, the Vice President’s office carries critical importance: the holder serves as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. With frequent disruptions and opposition unity often challenging the government’s legislative agenda, the role of the Rajya Sabha Chairman is pivotal in steering debates, managing floor strategy, and ensuring passage of key bills.

If elected, Radhakrishnan will take over from Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose tenure has been marked by sharp clashes between the Chair and opposition MPs over parliamentary conduct. The ruling alliance hopes that Radhakrishnan’s organisational experience and softer political style could provide both firmness and balance in running the Upper House.

Political Implications

The election underscores a broader political reality: the NDA continues to dominate the national stage, while the INDIA bloc remains hampered by numerical weakness and uneven cohesion.

For the NDA, Radhakrishnan’s almost assured victory will be a symbolic assertion of control over both presiding offices in Parliament—the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairperson. It also highlights the BJP’s strategy of nurturing southern leaders for greater visibility in national politics.

For the opposition, Justice Reddy’s nomination serves as a platform for messaging rather than expectation. By choosing a former Supreme Court judge, the bloc signals a commitment to constitutional principles and civil liberties, themes it hopes will resonate in public discourse—even if they don’t translate into votes inside Parliament.

What Lies Ahead

As MPs gather to cast their ballots on Tuesday, the result appears all but decided. Unless there is an extraordinary wave of cross-voting or abstentions, C. P. Radhakrishnan is set to be declared the next Vice President of India by evening.

His elevation will give the NDA another institutional advantage in Parliament, at a time when the opposition is struggling to convert street-level unity into numerical clout in the legislature.

For now, the contest reflects not so much a battle of equals as a reminder of the dominant parliamentary majority the NDA enjoys—and the uphill road that lies ahead for the INDIA bloc.