Vice President Election 2025: CP Radhakrishnan vs Sudershan Reddy as India Chooses 15th Vice President Today

The stage is set for the election of the 15th Vice President of India, with the outcome to be decided by members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The contest is between CP Radhakrishnan, candidate of the NDA bloc, and B Sudershan Reddy, candidate of the INDIA bloc. The election comes just two months after the sudden resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The result of the Vice Presidential election will be declared later today, with polling scheduled between 10 am and 5 pm at Room No. F-101, Vasudha, Parliament House. Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody is serving as the returning officer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first voter, casting his vote along with MPs from Punjab and Haryana, according to sources.

The NDA has fielded CP Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader and the current Governor of Maharashtra. A two-time MP from Coimbatore during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee era, Radhakrishnan has also served as Governor of Jharkhand. His experience in politics and governance makes him a strong contender for the second-highest constitutional office.

The INDIA bloc is backing Sudershan Reddy, a distinguished former Supreme Court judge. Known for several landmark judgments, Reddy served on the apex court from 2007 to 2011. He was also the first Lokayukta of Goa before resigning after seven months due to personal reasons. Among his most notable contributions was declaring the Salwa Judum, a state-backed militia in Chhattisgarh, unconstitutional.

The electoral college for the Vice Presidential election comprises 788 members, including 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha and 245 members of the Rajya Sabha. However, due to vacancies, the current strength stands at 781. The majority mark required for victory is 391.

The NDA, which enjoys the support of 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha, commands a total of 422 members, comfortably crossing the majority mark. Radhakrishnan, therefore, is expected to win, though the INDIA bloc is prepared to put up a strong contest.

While the NDA candidate has the backing of alliance partners like JD(U), TDP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, Sudershan Reddy is supported by Congress, DMK, RJD, JMM, TMC, Left parties, AAP, and AIMIM. Meanwhile, parties like the Biju Janata Dal, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi have opted to abstain from voting.

The Vice President of India, despite being the second-highest constitutional authority, does not draw a separate salary for the role. Instead, the officeholder receives a salary of ₹4 lakh per month as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. In addition, the Vice President enjoys perks such as official accommodation, medical care, personal staff, travel allowances, and security.

Today's contest between CP Radhakrishnan and Sudershan Reddy will not only decide the next Vice President but will also mark a crucial political moment, reflecting the strength of the ruling NDA and the unity of the opposition INDIA bloc.