In the VP election 2025, three parties — BJD, SAD, and BRS — have decided to abstain from voting, while 12 MPs will not cast their ballots.
Their decision is unlikely to affect the poll arithmetic, with BJP-led NDA nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan poised for a comfortable victory.
The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD finalized its abstention at a meeting of the party’s political affairs committee. Senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Dr Sasmit Patra said, “The party remains equidistant from both the NDA and the INDIA Alliance. Our focus is solely on the development and welfare of Odisha’s 4.5 crore people.” The BJD has seven Rajya Sabha MPs and had failed to open its account in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The BRS, led by working president K.T. Rama Rao, also announced it would abstain, citing farmers’ grievances, particularly the urea shortage in Telangana. The party has four Rajya Sabha members and no representation in the Lok Sabha.
The SAD declared it would stay away due to the flood disaster in Punjab. The party has only one MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who won from Bathinda in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The stage is set for a direct contest between NDA’s Radhakrishnan and Opposition’s B. Sudershan Reddy.
The electoral college for the Vice-Presidential election comprises 781 members, including 542 elected Lok Sabha members and 239 Rajya Sabha members (233 elected and 12 nominated, with six vacancies). All votes carry equal value and are cast through a secret ballot. A majority of 391 votes is required to win.
The Vice President’s post became vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21 due to health concerns, creating a leadership gap in the Upper House.
Political observers predict a closely watched contest, although the NDA holds a numerical advantage. Attention remains on potential cross-voting and the final outcome, expected later this evening.
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