Big Day for Indian Democracy: AAP MP Highlights Importance of Vice Presidential Voting
New Delhi is buzzing today as the Vice Presidential election kicks off, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Ashok Mittal calls it a "big day for democracy." With MPs across the country casting their votes, Mittal stresses how this process shows the real power of India’s Constitution and the role of elected leaders in shaping the nation’s future.
In an exclusive chat with , Ashok Mittal shared his excitement: "Today marks a huge moment for democracy. We’re picking our next Vice President, and it highlights the strength of our Constitution. As elected representatives, we get to vote and help decide the country’s leadership. Every MP will use their democratic right today." His words remind us why participation in elections like this Vice Presidential poll matters so much for India’s vibrant democracy.
Mittal didn’t hold back when asked about the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) choosing to skip the voting. "Democracy hands us the right to vote and even help form governments," he said. "I get that BRS and BJD thought this through, but I feel they should have voted anyway, no matter who they backed." It’s a fair point in the ongoing debate about political participation during key events like the 2024 Vice Presidential election.
When the conversation turned to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s trip to Malaysia right now, Mittal kept it neutral. "AAP isn’t in the INDIA bloc anymore, so I don’t know their plans. Rahul Gandhi has his own priorities as an individual, and it’s not my place to judge his choices." Smart move to avoid sparking any unnecessary political drama amid the high-stakes Vice Presidential contest.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led by example, casting his vote at the New Parliament Building. Right after, he took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted: "Voted in the 2025 Vice President election." Wait, did he mean 2024? Anyway, it’s clear the PM wants everyone to know the importance of showing up for this crucial vote.
Other big names from the NDA and INDIA bloc joined in, heading to the polling stations. The showdown is between NDA’s pick, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, and the INDIA bloc’s candidate, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy. To keep things fair and secret, all MPs got the exact same pen for marking their ballots—no fancy tricks here!
Even former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda made it to the venue in a wheelchair and cast his vote as a Rajya Sabha member. Talk about dedication to the democratic process!
Vote counting starts this evening, with results expected soon after. This isn’t just any election—the Vice President also chairs the Rajya Sabha, so it plays a massive role in how Parliament runs. No wonder the Vice Presidential election 2024 has everyone talking.
Quick facts on how it all works: The electoral college has 781 members, including 542 from the Lok Sabha and 239 from the Rajya Sabha (that’s 233 elected plus 12 nominated, minus six vacancies). Every vote counts equally in this secret ballot setup, and you need 391 votes to win. The spot opened up after Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down on July 21 due to health issues, right at the start of the Monsoon Session.
As India watches this unfold, it’s a reminder of how elections like this keep our democracy strong. Stay tuned for the results—who will be the next Vice President of India?
