As Members of Parliament prepare to elect India's next Vice President today, all eyes are on the contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, C. P. Radhakrishnan, and the nominee from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), B. Sudarshan Reddy. With the electoral college consisting of members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the NDA appears to have a significant advantage in terms of numbers.

The Vice Presidential election was prompted by the unexpected resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post on July 21, citing health reasons. Dhankhar's resignation, which came two years before the end of his term, was reportedly due to disagreements with the ruling government.

C. P. Radhakrishnan, the NDA candidate, is a seasoned politician with a long history in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The 68-year-old has served as the Governor of Maharashtra since July 31, 2024, and previously held the position of Governor of Jharkhand. Radhakrishnan has also been elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore. Known for his affable and unassuming nature, Radhakrishnan is considered a "100 percent RSS" man by many leaders. He is credited with strengthening the BJP's base in Tamil Nadu during his tenure as the state party president.

B. Sudarshan Reddy, the opposition's candidate, is a former Supreme Court judge. Justice Reddy retired in 2011 after a five-year tenure in the Supreme Court. His nomination marks the first time a former Supreme Court judge has contested an election for the Vice President's post.

The electoral college for the Vice Presidential election comprises 781 Members of Parliament. This includes 239 members from the Rajya Sabha and 542 members from the Lok Sabha. The NDA is estimated to have the support of 425 MPs, including 342 from the BJP. The INDIA bloc, on the other hand, has the backing of 324 MPs, with the Congress party holding 126 of those seats. To win the election, a candidate needs a minimum of 391 votes.

Given the NDA's numerical strength in both houses of Parliament, C. P. Radhakrishnan is widely considered to have an edge in the election. However, the final outcome will depend on how all the parties vote. In the last Vice Presidential election in 2022, Jagdeep Dhankhar won by a margin of 346 votes. Political analysts predict that the margin in this election could be narrower, potentially between 100 and 125 votes.

Voting for the Vice Presidential election will take place in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, Parliament House. The polling will commence at 10 AM and conclude at 5 PM. Following the conclusion of the voting, the counting of votes will begin at 6 PM. The Vice President is elected by a secret ballot, and the value of each vote is the same.