Vice Presidential Election: Opposition Leaders Hope for Cross-Voting from NDA as Polling Kicks Off in New Parliament
Voting for India’s Vice Presidential election got underway on Tuesday in the new Parliament Building in New Delhi. Senior leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc are feeling cautiously optimistic. They hope that some MPs from the ruling NDA will vote based on moral responsibility rather than strict party lines.
Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi shared his thoughts with reporters outside Parliament. "This Vice Presidential election is a tough challenge, but not impossible," he said. He pointed out the power imbalance: "On one side, there’s the ruling party that pulls out all stops to win elections. On the other, we have our INDIA bloc fighting hard. I hope BJP leaders listen to their inner conscience and vote purely. We’re confident our candidate will win."
The opposition’s nominee is former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy. He faces off against the NDA’s choice, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan. The winner steps into the shoes of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned earlier this year due to health issues. Dhankhar had been the Vice President, India’s second-highest constitutional office.
Polling runs until 5 p.m., with vote counting set to start after 6 p.m. The electoral college includes 781 MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. A candidate needs 391 votes to secure a majority and win the Vice Presidential poll.
Senior Congress leader Imran Masood called this election a battle for India’s democratic values. "It’s about saving the soul of our nation," he told reporters. "We’ll see whose conscience truly awakens. If NDA allies follow their inner voice, it could save the country’s freedom. We hope for a fair and square victory."
Congress MP Amar Singh kept it short and sweet: "Our candidate Sudarshan Reddy will definitely win."
Even though the opposition faces a numerical disadvantage in this NDA vs INDIA contest, they’re pinning hopes on cross-voting from NDA allies and independent MPs. They see the Vice Presidential election as a real test of moral courage over blind party loyalty.
As the votes roll in, everyone watches closely for the evening results. Who will claim the Vice President’s post? Stay tuned for updates on this key political showdown.
