Union Minister and BJP national president JP Nadda casts his vote for the Vice Presidential election at the Parliament House.

#WATCH | Delhi | Union Minister and BJP national president JP Nadda casts his vote for the Vice Presidential election at the Parliament House.
(Source: Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/yO0bX8zd8o

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

Sharad Pawar's party NCPSP has slammed the BRS and BJD for abstaining from voting for the vice presidential election. According to the party, both of them are "friends" with BJP.

#BREAKING | Sharad Pawar's Party Slams BRS-BJD, Says Both Are Friends With BJP@Vasudha156, @anujrayate, and @umasudhir report pic.twitter.com/1sKGaaKQNw

— NDTV (@ndtv) September 9, 2025

Voting is underway for the vice presidential election on Tuesday, with the lawmakers choosing between the BJP-led ruling alliance's pick of Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan and the INDIA bloc's ex-Supreme Court judge, Justice B Sudershan Reddy.

Three parties, however, have announced that they will boycott the poll, which was necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.

1. Biju Janata Dal

2. Bharat Rashtra Samithi

3. Shiromani Akali Dal

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, casts his vote for the Vice Presidential election at the Parliament House.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said, "We must understand why this situation arose. BJP quickly removed a vice president, and now everyone faces pressure to vote. Our candidate is a very good person. Morally, we will win."

On BRS abstaining to vote for the election, Ms Chowdhury said, "For Telugu speakers, this is a crucial issue and opportunity. A man from the south, who served for Telangana for his whole life and made important decisions as a Supreme Court judge, is it not shameful that BRS wouldn't vote for a Telugu man? Are their intentions pure? Whether BRS votes for them or not, it won't make a difference because they (BJP and BRS) are linked with each other. BRS say one thing in Telangana and does something else when in Delhi. They do the same thing repeatedly in many bills and elections."

#WATCH | Delhi: On Vice-Presidential Election 2025, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury says, "We must understand why this situation arose. BJP quickly removed a vice president, and now everyone faces pressure to vote. I don't want to talk about other parties, but I will definitely… pic.twitter.com/rxH8FGwhvq

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cast their votes at the Parliament House for the Vice President election.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge cast their vote for the Vice Presidential election at the Parliament House.

#WATCH | Delhi | Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge arrive at the Parliament House to cast their vote for the Vice Presidential election.
(Source: Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/L9so7EO0TA

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut casts her vote at the Parliament for the Vice President election.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi cast her vote for the Vice Presidential election at the Parliament today.

India will elect its next Vice President today. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has fielded CP Radhakrishnan against the opposition INDIA bloc's B Sudershan Reddy.

Mr Radhakrishnan is the Governor of Maharashtra, while Mr Reddy is a retired Supreme Court judge. The election comes after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned, citing health concerns, in July.

Voting Schedule

The voting takes place inside Parliament House, New Delhi. It will begin at 10 am and continue until 5 pm. Once the polling ends, the ballots will be sealed, and counting will begin after 6 pm. The results are expected late at night.

Who Votes

The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of all members of both Houses of Parliament. This includes elected as well as nominated MPs from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. At present, 788 MPs are eligible to vote.

How The Vice President Is Elected

A valid nomination requires the support of at least 20 proposers and 20 seconders from among MPs, along with a security deposit of Rs 15,000. The election is conducted through a secret ballot using the single transferable vote (STV) system of proportional representation.

MPs rank the candidates in order of preference: "1" for their first choice, "2" for their second, and so on.

A battle between the BJP-led NDA alliance and INDIA bloc is underway for the Vice Presidential polls, with a direct contest between NDA's CP Radhakrishnan and Opposition's B Sudershan Reddy.

The voting for electing the vice president has begun with a direct contest between NDA's CP Radhakrishnan and Opposition's B Sudershan Reddy.@vasudha156, @ankit_tyagi01 share details pic.twitter.com/YI9AotFKug

— NDTV (@ndtv) 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

Former Prime Minister and JD(S) MP in Rajya Sabha, HD Deve Gowda arrives at the Parliament to cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election.

#WATCH | Former Prime Minister and JD(S) MP in Rajya Sabha, HD Deve Gowda arrives at the Parliament to cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election. pic.twitter.com/GzLP3H1jmc

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

Voted in the 2025 Vice President election. pic.twitter.com/soCoJJmHSI

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 9, 2025

As the voting for the Vice Presidential polls began, INDIA bloc's nominee and former Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy said that he is "trying to awaken people's conscience".

"I am very confident. We are going to win. I am only trying to awaken people's conscience. I did not say that there would be cross-voting. I don't know what cross-voting is," he said.

#WATCH | Vice President election | INDIA bloc’s nominee and former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy says, "...I am very confident. We are going to win...I am only trying to awaken people's conscience. I did not say that there would be cross-voting. I don't know what… pic.twitter.com/IW3PsKPnC4

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

 (79), INDIA bloc's Vice President pick, is a former Supreme Court judge who retired in July 2011. He is known for several landmark judgments criticising the then central government for showing "slackness" in probing black-money cases. He had also declared the Salwa Judum, appointed by the Chhattisgarh government, as unconstitutional.

Mr Reddy hails from Telangana.

CP Radhakrishnan (67), who hails from Tamil Nadu, has served as a two-term member of the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He later went on to lead the BJP in Tamil Nadu. He is currently the Governor of Maharashtra. 

The NDA's nominee for Vice President is known for his legislative acumen and commitment to social empowerment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast the first vote for the Vice President 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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Parliament House to cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Parliament House to cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election.
Voting for the post of Vice President to begin shortly. NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan faces the Opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee… pic.twitter.com/e1xV7AlHD1

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab has decided to boycott the Vice Presidential elections, saying that neither the central nor the state government has meaningfully helped the people of Punjab during the devastating floods, which have affected large swathes of farmland, displaced thousands, and submerged people's homes.

Currently, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur is the sole representative of the party in Parliament. The party has no Rajya Sabha MPs.

Punjab and Punjabis have always stood by the nation whenever and wherever there has been a crisis. But today Punjabis themselves face a very severe crisis because of unprecedented floods.
▪️Almost one third of the state lies submerged under water with houses and crops completely… pic.twitter.com/IYfdrPa8sr

— Shiromani Akali Dal (@Akali_Dal_) September 8, 2025

Congress state convenors are holding a key meeting at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's chamber, shortly before the Vice Presidential polls.

NDA's Vice President pick, CP Radhakrishnan, visited the Ram Temple in Delhi and offered prayers ahead of the polls.

उपराष्ट्रपति उम्मीदवार श्री सी.पी. राधाकृष्णन ने आज सुबह दिल्ली के लोधी रोड स्थित श्री राम मंदिर में पूजा-अर्चना की और आशीर्वाद मांगा। pic.twitter.com/J3LfIdcprh

— Arun Yadav (@BeingArun28) September 9, 2025

BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) hit out at Congress leader Jairam Ramesh over his remarks on BRS abstaining from voting for Vice President election.

"Two parties who have stood with the BJP staunchly over the past decade in Parliament have decided to abstain in the Vice Presidential election tomorrow. The shape of things to come?" Mr Ramesh had said.

To this, KTR asked him to "focus on own failures" and "spare the tantrums".

"Jairam Ji, This sense of entitlement and arrogance is what made Congress fail in contemporary politics. ‘Either you are with us or else you’re with them’ claim is a silly argument posturing as if the nation is bipolar. We are neither B-team of Congress or BJP. We are the A-team of Telangana people," he said.

Jairam Ji, This sense of entitlement and arrogance is what made Congress fail in contemporary politics
‘Either you are with us or else you’re with them’ claim is a silly argument posturing as if the nation is bipolar
We are neither B-team of Congress or BJP
We are the A-team… https://t.co/xrIvSE7AeZ

— KTR (@KTRBRS) September 9, 2025

CP Radhakrishnan, NDA's Vice President pick, said that it is going to be a victory of "Indian nationalism" ahead of polls.

"The elections are taking place. It is going to be a big victory for Indian nationalism. We are all one, we will be one and we want India to become Viksit Bharat," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi | #VicePresidentialElection2025 | NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan says, "The elections are taking place. It is going to be a big victory for Indian nationalism. We are all one, we will be one and we want India to become 'Viksit Bharat'..." pic.twitter.com/znJG2tBVuv

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has nominated Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as his polling agents for today's Vice President polling and counting, reported news agency ANI.

The Vice President of India, the second-highest Constitutional office in the country, is perhaps the only post that does not enjoy the benefits of a regular salary. The vice president draws his salary for his role as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament.

NDA candidate C P Radhakrishnan and opposition nominee P Sudershan Reddy are in the fray for the September 9 vice presidential elections necessitated due to the surprise resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21.

The salary and allowances of the vice president are determined under the Salaries and Allowances of Officers of Parliament Act, 1953.

The vice president is entitled to draw the salary of the President of India when he assumes the responsibility in a caretaker role. In such a situation, the vice president ceases to be the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha chairman is entitled to a salary of Rs 4 lakh per month.

The vice president enjoys several perks and allowances such as free accommodation, medical care, train and air travel, a landline connection, mobile phone service, personal security and staff.

A former vice-president is entitled to a pension of nearly Rs 2 lakh per month, a Type-8 bungalow, one personal secretary, one additional personal secretary, one personal assistant, one physician, one nursing officer, and four personal attendants.

In the case of a former vice-president's death, his or her spouse is entitled to a smaller Type-7 house for her lifetime.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will abstain from voting in the Vice Presidential election today owing to the farmers' crisis in Telangana and its tensions with both the BJP and Congress, party leader KR Suresh Reddy told NDTV.

According to Mr Reddy, farmers in Telangana have been facing a crisis of fertilizers, for which they had appealed to the Centre seeking a solution, but "had no effect".

"For the last month, Telangana farmers have been facing a crisis of fertilizers, especially urea. We have appealed to the central government and the Telangana state government several times to resolve this crisis. But it has had no effect. Also, the BJP leadership in Telangana said that they do not need BRS's support for the Vice President election," he said.

On the other hand, the Congress-ruled state government in Telangana has been continuously taking unnecessary action against BRS workers, Mr Reddy said.

"This is the reason why BRS leadership has decided not to participate in the Vice President election. We know that our participation in the voting will not have much impact on the result of the election, but through this decision, we want to put the crisis of Telangana farmers in front of the country. We hope that we will definitely succeed in this effort," he said.

In a fervent appeal to MPs ahead of the vice presidential polls, Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy on Sunday exhorted them to not let party loyalty guide their choice and asserted that by voting for him, they would be ensuring that the Rajya Sabha stands as a true temple of democracy.

In a video message, Reddy told the MPs that this is not just a vote to elect their Vice-President but is a vote for the spirit of India itself.

The joint opposition candidate said he seeks the MPs' support not for himself but for the "values that define us as a sovereign democratic republic".

"In this election, there is no party whip, and the ballot is secret. It is not loyalty to any political party, but love for the country that must guide your choice. Each one of you carry the moral responsibility to preserve the conscience, the soul of our beloved nation," Reddy said in his over 12-minute-long video message for members of Parliament.

"By entrusting me with this office, you will be choosing to defend parliamentary traditions, to restore dignity to debate, and to ensure that the Rajya Sabha stands as a true temple of democracy," the former Supreme Court judge said.

India to get new Vice-President; voting to begin shortly pic.twitter.com/lH6OM62RLP

— NDTV (@ndtv) September 9, 2025

The ruling NDA is ready with an elaborate plan for the election of the Vice President today -- contest between NDA candidate Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan and Opposition's retired Supreme Court judge Justice Sudershan Reddy. Though the numbers are stacked up in favour of the ruling NDA, the ruling alliance has come up with a detailed plan to ensure there are no slips. The margin of the victory is not expected to be large, and the NDA is tracking every vote, sources said. 

The MPs have been divided up and each group will be under the stern eye of a minister till the voting begins. The groups will meet in the morning for breakfast and then head for parliament together, sources said. 

All Members of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh will gather at Piyush Goyal's residence at 8 am. MPs from the rest of north India - Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Uttarakhand will gather at the residence of Manohar Lal Khattar.

Members of Parliament from south India will gather at the residence of Prahlad Joshi. Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be in charge of members of Parliament from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The election is conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission, which appoints a Returning Officer, typically a senior parliamentary official, to oversee the process.

A prospective candidate must secure at least 20 proposers and 20 seconders from among MPs to file a valid nomination. A security deposit of Rs 15,000 is also required.

Each MP ranks the candidates in order of preference, and a candidate must get simple majority, i.e., more than half the total valid votes to win. If no candidate achieves this on first preferences, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes transferred based on next preferences. This continues until one candidate is elected.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely cast his vote at 10 am today for the high-stakes Vice Presidential polls. He will be the first among other Parliamentarians to cast the vote.

Voting begins at 10 am and will continue till 5 pm. Counting will begin post 6 pm. The election process is fairly straightforward. All MPs, elected or nominated, can vote. They do so in a secret ballot, meaning each can vote as they wish and not along party lines. 

In practice, however, cross-voting is common. In 2022, for example, several opposition MPs voted for Jagdeep Dhankhar, the BJP's pick. Then the BJP benefitted from a large number of its own MPs, over 300 in the Lok Sabha alone, in the fray. This time the party-led NDA has 427 in both Houses, That should still be enough given confirmed support from the YSR Congress and a 386-vote majority mark after the BRS, BJD's abstention.

However, the narrower margins - in 2022 Mr Dhankhar won by 346 votes - means the BJP is taking no chances. 'Man to man marking' is what sources have told NDTV. BJP MPs have been divided into groups that will gather in the morning and stay together for the rest of the day, to minimise disruptions and/or attempted poaching by the opposition.

The stage is set for a direct contest between NDA's CP Radhakrishnan and Opposition's B Sudershan Reddy for the vice-presidential election today, with the BJP-led alliance having a clear edge.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is expected to win the election, although the margin of victory may not be as big as in the past few polls, sources told NDTV. Hence, the NDA, sources said, is tracking every vote.