New Delhi, Aug 20 (V7N) – India will hold its next vice-presidential election on September 9, with a high-profile contest emerging between two prominent candidates representing rival political blocs.
 
The opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, has nominated former Supreme Court Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy as its candidate. The 79-year-old retired judge from Andhra Pradesh brings decades of legal expertise to the race.
 
Facing him is the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan, a senior politician from Tamil Nadu with longstanding ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
 
The announcement has set the stage for a politically significant battle between two southern Indian states—Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu—reflecting deeper regional and national political dynamics.
 
According to Indian news outlet NDTV, both candidates are expected to mount strong campaigns, prompting intricate vote-count calculations from both alliances in their bid to secure parliamentary support.
 
The vice president of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament. While the NDA currently holds a numerical advantage in the Lok Sabha, the INDIA bloc is expected to consolidate opposition votes in the Rajya Sabha.
 
Analysts say the election may serve as a bellwether for broader political alignments ahead of India's next general election in 2026. The position of vice president, although largely ceremonial, includes the critical role of chairing the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of Parliament.
 
The nomination of Justice Reddy by the opposition has been seen as a strategic move aimed at enhancing institutional credibility, while Radhakrishnan’s candidacy underscores the NDA’s preference for political loyalty and legislative experience.
 
The results of the election are expected to be announced on the same day as voting.
 
END/WD/SMA/