Will the Vice Presidential Election Change India's Political Landscape?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Vice Presidential election is crucial for India's political framework.
- Voting takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today.
- The electoral college consists of 781 members.
- A total of 391 votes is required for victory.
- Prime Minister Modi will cast the first vote.
New Delhi, Sep 9 (NationPress) The election for the Vice President of India is taking place today, September 9. Voting is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the New Parliament Building in New Delhi.
The candidates are NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, competing against the INDIA bloc candidate, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.
This election is of great political significance, as the Vice President also acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a role essential for the smooth operation of Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to cast the inaugural vote this morning. Official election agents for the process include Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ram Mohan Naidu, along with Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.
Vote counting will commence at 6:00 p.m., with results expected to be revealed later in the evening.
The electoral college consists of 781 members, with 542 elected members from the Lok Sabha and 239 members from the Rajya Sabha (comprising 233 elected and 12 nominated, with six vacancies across both Houses). Each vote holds equal value, and a secret ballot is conducted in line with established parliamentary norms. A total of 391 votes is required to secure victory.
The Vice President's position became vacant following Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation on July 21 due to health issues, which created a leadership void in the Upper House, enhancing the significance of today’s election.
Political analysts predict a closely monitored contest, although the NDA appears to hold a numerical edge in the combined strength of both Houses. However, the potential for cross-voting keeps the final result unpredictable.