New Delhi, September 9, 2025 — India will choose its new Vice President today after the unexpected resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. The contest is between the NDA’s nominee, Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, and the INDIA bloc’s candidate, retired Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.

Voting starts at 10 a.m. and will run till 5 p.m. Counting begins after 6 p.m., and results are expected by evening. All Members of Parliament, elected or nominated, can vote through a secret ballot. While MPs are free to vote as they wish, most follow party lines. Even so, cross-voting has been a factor in past elections.

In 2022, Dhankhar won with support from some opposition MPs but by a margin of just 346 votes. This time, the BJP-led NDA enters the race stronger, with 427 MPs across both Houses. With support from YSR Congress, the alliance is expected to comfortably cross the 386-vote majority mark. Still, the BJP is taking no chances. Senior ministers have been tasked to closely “manage” MPs from different states to prevent defections.

The opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Congress, has about 315 votes. The Aam Aadmi Party’s 12 MPs may back Justice Reddy, though internal rifts could affect unity. Even with full opposition support, the numbers are tilted in the NDA’s favour.

Dhankhar’s resignation came as a surprise. He cited health concerns, but sources say his decision followed friction with the government after he accepted an opposition motion to impeach a Delhi High Court judge.

For the BJP, Radhakrishnan’s nomination also has political significance. By choosing a Tamil leader, the party signals its focus on Tamil Nadu, which goes to polls next year. The opposition had considered fielding a Tamil face too but settled on Justice Reddy, a respected jurist from Andhra Pradesh. This marks the first time both vice-presidential candidates are from southern India.

Opposition leaders admit they are unlikely to win but say the contest is about optics. They want to show increased strength compared to the last election and energise their cadre ahead of crucial state polls in Bihar, Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.

The BJP has countered by attacking Justice Reddy’s past judgments. Home Minister Amit Shah cited his 2011 verdict against state-backed militias in Chhattisgarh, claiming it weakened the fight against Naxalism.

By tonight, India will know whether C. P. Radhakrishnan or Justice B. Sudershan Reddy will step into the Vice President’s chair — and who will command the Rajya Sabha in the coming years.