As the race for the Vice President of India enters its final phase, the Opposition’s INDIA bloc has appealed to Members of Parliament to vote with their “inner conscience,” invoking constitutional values and highlighting the episode of outgoing Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
With polling set for Tuesday, September 9, the contest has shaped up as a direct face-off between NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan and INDIA bloc candidate, retired Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy. Yet, despite the Opposition’s symbolic campaign, the numbers remain firmly stacked in favour of the ruling alliance.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut framed the election as a referendum on democratic principles and transparency.
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“This election for the post of Vice President is being held for the protection of the country’s Constitution, for democracy, for the national interest. Where our previous Vice President is, I don’t know. Until Mr Dhankhar makes a public appearance or comes out in public, we will keep asking the question that where is our former Vice President? Keeping this in mind, all the MPs of the country should vote,” Raut said.
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai described the election as a clash between constitutionalism and a threatening ideology: “This is a fight between those who believe in the Constitution and those who threaten the country’s political and social fabric through an ideology.”
INDIA bloc member and CPI MP, P Sandosh Kumar acknowledged the tough arithmetic for the Opposition, which has 371 votes in the 782-member electoral college. Kumar said that Reddy represents Opposition’s protest against the ruling NDA and fight for the Constitution.
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“His candidature is acceptable to all of us. We are ready, and whatever may be the outcome, it will be a narrow escape for anyone,” he said.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said voting in the Vice-Presidential election 2025 will be done on the basis of the inner conscience.
“Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy will win because he is not a candidate of any political party and is not contesting on any party symbol,” he added.
Meanwhile the ruling NDA leaders are certain of their candidate CP Radhakrishnan.
“It is known that the victory of the NDA candidate for the vice-presidential elections is certain, and the NDA will vote in his favour tomorrow with unity. We will also vote for the NDA candidate…,” said Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur.
Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) MP Naresh Mhaske said that their MPs will support the NDA candidate.
“We are a part of the NDA alliance, so we will support the NDA candidate for the post of the Vice-President. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde has called a meeting of Shiv Sena MPs ahead of the Vice-President elections,” he said.
With just 24 hours to go for the Vice President elections, it appears a one-sided contest between NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan and INDIA’s B Sudershan Reddy, with the earlier poised to win comfortably.
The NDA has intensified efforts to secure a win for its candidate as the BJP is conducting strategy workshops in Parliament, while NDA allies are holding key meetings in Delhi.