Vice Presidential election to be held today

New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) The election for the post of Vice President of India is being held on Tuesday, September 9, with voting set to take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the New Parliament Building in New Delhi.

The contest is between NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan and INDIA bloc candidate and former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.

This election holds significant political weight, as the Vice President of India also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, making the role crucial in the functioning of Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to cast the first vote this morning. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ram Mohan Naidu, along with Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, have been appointed as official election agents for the process.

The counting of votes will begin at 6:00 p.m., with the results expected to be announced later in the evening.

The electoral college for the Vice Presidential election comprises 781 members, including 542 elected members of the Lok Sabha and 239 members of the Rajya Sabha (233 elected and 12 nominated, with six vacancies across both Houses). All votes carry equal value, and voting is conducted through a secret ballot, as per established parliamentary procedure. The majority mark needed to win is 391 votes.

The Vice President's post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, citing health concerns, on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. His unexpected resignation created a leadership gap in the Upper House, making today’s election especially significant.

Political observers expect a keenly watched contest, though the NDA is seen as having a numerical advantage in the combined strength of the two Houses. However, all eyes remain on potential cross-voting and the final outcome this evening.

—IANS

rs/