New Delhi: Counting of votes in the vice presidential election began at 6 PM on Tuesday (September 9) after over 98% of MPs exercised their franchise in the contest between NDA nominee C P Radhakrishnan and joint opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy.
The counting was underway in the new Parliament building under the supervision of Returning Officer P C Mody, Rajya Sabha Secretary General. The results will be announced late evening. The polling concluded at 5 PM with over 98 per cent of votes being cast in the election, official sources said, adding 12 MPs out of 781 did not vote.
Earlier, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on social media that the opposition remained united in this election. All 315 MPs of the INDIA alliance cast their votes.
NDA has fielded 68-year-old CP Radhakrishnan while INDIA has fielded 79-year-old B Sudarshan Reddy. BRS and former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s party BJD stayed away from the Vice Presidential election. Both parties did not support any alliance. BRS has 4 MPs and BJD has 7 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
Shiromani Akali Dal, which has only one MP in the Lok Sabha, also refused to vote due to floods in Punjab. YSRCP’s 11 MPs had already decided to vote in favour of the NDA candidate.
The winning candidate will replace Jagdeep Dhankhar. Dhankhar suddenly resigned from his post on July 21 citing ill health. His term was till August 10, 2027.
Congress leaders cast vote
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrived at the New Parliament Building in New Delhi to cast their votes for the Vice Presidential election on Tuesday.
The election is witnessing the contest between the NDA nominee, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, and the INDIA bloc candidate, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived to cast his vote. He was accompanied by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and both were seen smiling and walking hand-in-hand. Congress Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also seen arriving to cast her vote for the Vice-Presidential election.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from the Parliament House after casting his vote for the Vice Presidential election.
(Video: DD News) pic.twitter.com/Kic17Kdebj
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election at the Parliament House this morning.
(Video: DD News) pic.twitter.com/3cxQJNJSrm
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025
Other parliamentarians of the NDA and the INDIA bloc were also casting their votes.
The election will witness the contest between the NDA nominee, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, and the INDIA bloc candidate, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.
All parliamentarians were given the same kind of pen to cast their votes for privacy.
Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, currently serving as a Rajya Sabha member, also arrived in a wheelchair to cast his vote.
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.
Counting of votes
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.
Jagdeep Dhankar’s sudden resignation
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.