Owaisi Has Decided. In Vice President Election, AIMIM Will Vote For...

In a move that adds a local touch to a national contest, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has announced his party's support for the Opposition's vice-presidential candidate, Justice B Sudershan Reddy.

The decision came after a call from Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who urged the Hyderabad MP to back the former Supreme Court judge. "Justice Reddy is a fellow Hyderabadi and a respected jurist," Owaisi said on X, adding that he had personally spoken to the candidate and extended good wishes.

A Contest of Contrasts

The upcoming election, scheduled for September 9, was triggered by the unexpected resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The ruling NDA has put forward Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, while the INDIA bloc has chosen Justice Reddy as its challenger.

Although the result is numerically tilted in the NDA's favour, Owaisi's endorsement gives the Opposition an added sense of legitimacy, especially with Justice Reddy's local roots in Hyderabad.

The Math Behind the Vote

The vice president is chosen not by the public but by an electoral college made up of MPs from both Houses of Parliament, including nominated members. Voting is conducted through a single transferable vote system, and no party whip binds members-leaving room for cross-voting, as seen in past elections.

On paper, however, the NDA's strength is decisive. With 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 133 in the Rajya Sabha, the alliance commands 426 votes-enough to secure its nominee's victory even without outside support.

Symbolism Over Numbers

While AIMIM's backing will not alter the arithmetic, it underscores how regional and community leaders like Owaisi can shape the optics of national contests. For the INDIA bloc, Justice Reddy's candidacy is less about the likelihood of victory and more about presenting a credible, respected face against the government's nominee.

For Owaisi, the endorsement also sends a message closer to home: aligning with a fellow Hyderabadi reinforces his position as both a national player and a voice rooted in his constituency