The 15th Vice Presidential elections saw active participation from top Congress leaders today in New Delhi. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Shashi Tharoor were among those who arrived at Parliament to cast their votes.
Voting began at 10 AM inside Parliament House, while counting will take place at 6 PM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first to vote, followed by senior ministers and MPs. Kharge was seen exchanging greetings with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during the process.
The Congress-backed candidate, former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, is facing off against the NDA nominee, former Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan. NDA allies such as the TDP and JDU have pledged support, giving Radhakrishnan a clear numerical edge. According to estimates, 424 MPs are likely to back him, crossing the majority mark of 391.
Parties like the BJD, BRS, and SAD have decided to stay away from the election. Meanwhile, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of treating its former Vice President with a “use-and-throw” approach.
This election follows the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 due to health concerns.
