Onmanorama Explains | How India chooses its Vice President and how the numbers add up

The Parliament is set to elect India’s next Vice President and ex officio Rajya Sabha Chairman on September 9. The ruling NDA and opposition INDIA bloc have announced their nominees, setting up a contest between C P Radhakrishnan and B Sudershan Reddy, respectively.

But how exactly is the Vice President chosen, why is the election happening now, and what does the role entail? Here’s a breakdown.

Why is the election happening
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, creating a constitutional vacancy. Under Article 68(2), such a vacancy must be filled within six months. The Election Commission scheduled polling for September 9, with nominations closing on August 21 and withdrawals by August 25.

How India elects the Vice President
The Vice President is elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of all members of both lower and upper Houses of Parliament — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members. Election is governed by the provisions contained in Articles 64 to 68 of the Constitution of India and the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Act, 1952. Unlike the presidential election, the value of each MP’s vote is the same, and state legislatures are not part of the process. Voting is held by secret ballot using proportional representation through the single transferable vote system, which allows MPs to rank candidates in order of preference.

Who votes: All Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha, including nominated members). Each MP’s vote has equal value = 1.

Nominations: Candidates must be 35 years or older, qualified for the Rajya Sabha, and not hold an office of profit. Papers must carry 20 proposers and 20 seconders (all MPs), plus a ₹15,000 deposit.

Scrutiny & withdrawal: The Returning Officer (usually a House Secretary-General) verifies papers; candidates may withdraw before the deadline.

Polling day: MPs vote by secret ballot using the single transferable vote (STV) system. They rank candidates (1, 2, 3 …). Only the marking of the first preference is compulsory for a ballot paper to be valid. Marking other preferences is optional. Party whips don’t apply.

Counting: First preferences are tallied. To win, a candidate must secure more than half of the total number of votes, i.e. (total valid votes ÷ 2) + 1. If no one reaches the quota, the candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated and the votes polled are transferred to the existing candidates until someone wins. Usually, counting finishes on the same day.

Result: Declared by the Returning Officer, notified by the Election Commission. Challenges can only be made in the Supreme Court.

Meet the candidates
CP Radhakrishnan (NDA): The ruling NDA named Chandrapuram Ponnusamy (CP) Radhakrishnan (b. 1957) as its nominee. Radhakrishnan is a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu who entered public life via the RSS. He was elected to Parliament twice from Coimbatore (1998, 1999) and has over 40 years of experience in politics. He served as BJP state president in Tamil Nadu (2004–07); during that time, he led a 19,000‑km ‘ratha yatra’ campaign promoting party causes like inter‑linking rivers and a uniform civil code. More recently, he has been the Governor of Jharkhand (2023–24) and, since 2024, the Governor of Maharashtra. The BJP highlighted his extensive administrative experience (e.g. as Coir Board chairman and BJP national in-charge for Kerala) and sees his candidacy as fitting its strategy to solidify support in South India.

B Sudershan Reddy (INDIA bloc): Former Supreme Court justice Balkrishna Sudershan Reddy (b. 1946) was announced on August 19 as the INDIA (opposition) bloc’s candidate. Reddy had a long judicial career in Andhra Pradesh and the northeast: he was Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court (2005–06) and then a Supreme Court judge from 2007 until his retirement in 2011. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called him “one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists” and noted his track record of championing social and economic justice for the poor. Opposition allies – including the Trinamool Congress and AAP – immediately backed his nomination, saying the decision was unanimous.

The numbers game: who has the edge?
This year’s contest is expected to be one-sided, given the arithmetic in Parliament. With nearly 780 MPs eligible to vote and the majority mark at around 391, the NDA holds a clear edge. The BJP’s dominance in both Houses, coupled with support from allies such as JD(U), TDP, and AIADMK, gives its candidate CP Radhakrishnan the backing of well over 400 MPs. On the other hand, the opposition INDIA bloc — comprising the Congress, TMC, DMK, Left, AAP, and others — commands roughly 300-plus votes. Though respected across political lines, Sudershan Reddy is seen as a consensus choice aimed at rallying opposition unity rather than a major challenger. While the vote is conducted through a secret ballot, making cross-voting possible, the outcome is unlikely to alter. 

Role of the Vice President
The Vice President is the second-highest constitutional office in India. Beyond being a stand-in for the President if the latter resigns, dies, or is otherwise unable to discharge duties, the Vice President’s primary role is to act as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, presiding over debates, maintaining order, and casting a deciding vote in case of a tie. Unlike the US Vice President, the office carries no executive authority, making it more parliamentary and ceremonial. It is, however, crucial for the smooth functioning of India’s upper house.