Vice President election 2025 highlights: PM Modi meets, felicitates CP Radhakrishnan

Congress MP Randeep Surjewala asked the Bharatiya Janata Party and PM Modi that if the Vice President election can take place on the ballot paper, then why not the election of MPs and MLAs.

"If Zilla Parishad election can take place on ballot paper, then why not the election of MPs and MLAs...As far as VP elections are concerned, for Congress and MPs of the entire Opposition this is a fight for safeguarding the traditions and decorum of Constitution. For us, this fight is not limited to just casting a vote. This is a fight to save the Parliament's decorum, traditions, values and parameters," he told news agency ANI.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Union home minister Amit Shah cast his vote in the Vice Presidential election on Tuesday. Earlier, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, JP Nadda, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Pralhad Joshi had also voted. Gadkari was seen exchanging greetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as both arrived at Parliament.

Polling for the Vice Presidential election commenced at 10 am, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being the first to cast his vote.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Union minister Suresh Gopi extended his support to CP Radhakrishnan, describing the Vice Presidential election as one centred on "fairness, truthfulness, and effectiveness".

Suresh Gopi said, "This election is not about choosing between anyone. It is an election aimed at selecting fairness, truthfulness, and effectiveness, which are most needed for the citizens of the country, whether they live inside or outside the country... As a person, I found CP Radhakrishnan to be the best worker or one of the best among thousands of workers in my ideological system."

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, dressed in a pink and black saree, cast her vote in the Vice-Presidential election, which is witnessing a straight contest between the Opposition and the NDA. While the BJP has nominated Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, the Opposition has fielded former Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil voiced strong support for INDIA bloc nominee B Sudershan Reddy, saying, “Our candidate is the best and I feel the voters will listen to their conscience. The candidate of INDIA alliance had a dotless career. He has worked on a Constitutional post also.”

B Sudershan Reddy is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India. He passed the bar in 1971 and was enrolled in Hyderabad with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh.

In his career as an advocate, Reddy practised Civil matters in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. He worked as a government Pleader in the High Court during 1988-90.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor exercised his vote in the Vice Presidential election after senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and others had already cast theirs to elect the 15th Vice President of India.

Earlier, speaking to ANI on Monday, Tharoor remarked, "See, we will cast our votes. These elections are important. You know how the count is going on, what can I say?"

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc convened a meeting in the Parliament complex on Monday to display unity ahead of the vice presidential election, urging MPs to follow their conscience and vote independently in this "ideological battle."

MPs were advised not to let their votes go to waste in the September 9 vice presidential poll and were briefed on the voting procedure, while expressing confidence in their victory and leaving nothing to chance.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: BJP MP Anurag Thakur confident of C.P. Radhakrishnan’s win, says, "Wait for the results. The candidate nominated by the BJP-NDA is very graceful; his life has been full of achievements. I am confident that he will win with a full majority. Country will get a new Vice President and Rajya Sabha will get a new chairman."

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Expressing confidence in NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan’s victory, BJP MP PP Chaudhary said that, in addition to NDA MPs, several MPs from the INDIA bloc are expected to vote for him.

Speaking to reporters, Chaudhary said, "Apart from the votes of NDA MPs, other MPs will also vote in favour of NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan. Many MPs of the INDI alliance want to vote for NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan..."

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: As voting commenced for the 15th Vice Presidential election, Union panchayati raj minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lallan) Singh blamed Opposition candidate and retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy for "extending the problem of Naxalism" in Chhattisgarh and Telangana by eight years.

"We will surely win the elections. Because of the opposition candidate (B. Sudershan Reddy) and his work, it took eight years to end Naxalism in Telangana, and it was a big problem. He doesn't care about problems on the ground. Naxalism was a huge problem in Telangana and especially in Chhattisgarh. His one decision extended the problem for eight more years," Singh told reporters.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Congress leader Imran Masood on Tuesday expressed optimism over INDIA bloc candidate B. Sudershan Reddy’s chances in the Vice Presidential polls, describing it as the "election to save the soul of the nation."

"This is an election to save the soul of the nation...I am hopeful that we will emerge victorious," Masood told ANI outside the Parliament premises.

While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appears to hold a comfortable majority of 427 votes, well above the required 391, the INDIA bloc is relying on cross-voting to secure a win. At present, their candidate has the backing of 354 MPs, including 249 in the Lower House and 105 in the Upper House.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: During a friendly encounter on the sidelines of the Vice Presidential election at the Parliament House, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was seen interacting with Union ministers and BJP leaders Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kiren Rijiju as he proceeded to cast his vote.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule says “This is such a big election. The question is not just about a party, the post should be occupied by an individual who upholds national interest.”

The NCP-SCP, part of the opposition INDIA bloc, has fielded former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy against NDA candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Among the early voters were Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Kiren Rijiju. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav also cast their votes in the Vice Presidential election.

Members of Parliament are not bound by party whips in this election, which is conducted by secret ballot.

The current strength of the electoral college stands at 781, with six vacancies in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha, setting the majority mark at 391. The NDA enjoys the support of 425 MPs, while the opposition camp has backing from 324 MPs.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Union minister Pralhad Joshi expressed confidence that NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan will secure a "thumping majority" in the Vice-Presidential election.

He also claimed there is considerable "dissatisfaction" within the Congress party regarding their candidate, B Sudershan Reddy.

Speaking to reporters, Joshi said, "If Congress is making an honest call to choose wisely, then their candidate will lose with bigger numbers. If one needs to make a wise decision, they cannot be voted for. There is a grave discontent within the Congress party over their candidate...We are very confident that we will win with thumping majority.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: As the Vice Presidential election is underway, INDIA bloc nominee and former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy said, "...I am very confident. We are going to win...I am only trying to awaken people's conscience. I did not say that there would be cross-voting. I don't know what cross-voting is."

The opposition INDIA bloc has nominated the former Supreme Court judge, who hails from southern India. Aged 79, B Sudershan Reddy retired from the Supreme Court in July 2011 and is known for several landmark judgments, including critiques of the then Union government’s handling of black-money cases. He had also declared Salwa Judum, appointed by the Chhattisgarh government to combat Naxals, unconstitutional.

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: On the ongoing Vice President election, AIADMK MP M Thambidurai said, “Our leader, Edappadi Palaniswami, general secretary of AIADMK, has already recommended and supported Radhakrishnan. He directed us to vote for him. Therefore, all AIADMK MPs are assembled here... Edappadi Palaniswami clearly wants to support the Tamil man, especially since he comes from the OBC category and that too from Tamil Nadu. Therefore, it is a great honour for the people of Tamil Nadu... DMK is exposed for not voting in favour of CP Radhakrishnan. In the upcoming election, Tamil Nadu people will definitely vote against DMK because they did not support the Tamil candidate as vice president.”

Vice President election 2025 LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast the first vote as polling opened at 10 am for the high-stakes Vice Presidential election. Voting will continue until 5 pm, with counting scheduled to begin at 6 pm.

Vice President election 2025 live: As the Vice Presidential election approaches on Tuesday, NDA candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan holds a clear advantage, with support from 427 MPs – well above the majority mark of 391.

A BJP leader has indicated that the NDA nominee is likely to secure at least 427 votes. In the Lok Sabha, Radhakrishnan is expected to receive 293 votes, while 134 votes are anticipated from the Rajya Sabha.

The Opposition’s candidate, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, is backed by 354 MPs, including 249 in the Lower House and 105 in the Upper House.

The current strength of Parliament stands at 781 members, comprising 542 in the Lok Sabha with one vacancy, and 239 in the Rajya Sabha with five vacant seats.

Vice President election 2025 live: Ahead of the vice-presidential election, the Congress on Tuesday criticised YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy for supporting NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan, accusing him of betraying democratic forces.

In a post on X, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said the people of Andhra Pradesh would not forget his "betrayal" for backing an RSS candidate out of "fear" of CBI cases rather than prioritising the state’s interests.

“History won't forget Mr @ysjagan's betrayal. By supporting an RSS-backed candidate for Vice President, he has chosen fear of CBI cases over the interests of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

“This is not about strategy. This is about surrender - surrendering to Modi - Babu's pressure, instead of standing with democratic forces,” Tagore added.

The Congress leader further stated that Jagan's "compromise" today will be remembered as the day "he placed his personal survival above people's mandate."

Vice President election 2025 live: Voting to elect India’s new Vice President is set to begin shortly at the new Parliament building, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to cast the first vote. He will then depart for Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to assess the flood situation on the ground.

Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU working president), Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju have been appointed as polling agents for NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan.

For Justice B Sudershan Reddy, Syed Naseer Hussain, Manickam Tagore, and Shatabdi Roy have been named as polling agents for the Vice Presidential election.

(With inputs from HT correspondent)

Vice President election 2025 live: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab has announced that it will boycott Tuesday’s Vice Presidential elections. The party stated that neither the Central nor the state government has provided meaningful assistance to the people of Punjab during the devastating floods, which have submerged large areas of farmland, displaced thousands, and destroyed homes.

Currently, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur is the party’s only representative in Parliament, with no members in the Rajya Sabha.

"Almost one third of the state lies submerged under water with houses and crops completely destroyed. It is a man-made tragedy caused by Punjab government's negligence and incompetence. Neither the state government nor the centre have come forward to help Punjabis in any way. Neither the state government nor the centre have come forward to help Punjabis in any way," the party posted on X.

The SAD added that the people of Punjab are "very upset and angry" with the Centre for conducting a Vice Presidential election while the state continues to suffer.

Vice President election 2025 live: Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad, ahead of the Vice-Presidential elections, said, "In this election, on one side are those who want to protect the Constitution, and on the other are those who weaken and attack it. One side respects Baba Saheb Ambedkar, while the other disrespects him...This election will be interesting."

Leaders of the INDIA bloc – including Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, TMC, RJD, JMM, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), CPI, and CPI-M – met in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (old Parliament building) on Monday and were briefed about the election process.

The election for the country’s second-highest constitutional office was necessitated following the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21.

Vice President election 2025 live: Ahead of the Vice Presidential election, opposition INDIA bloc candidate and former Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy met RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal and Azad Samaj Party President and MP Chandrasekhar Azad in Delhi on Monday evening to seek their support.

Thanking Beniwal, Reddy described it as a "memorable moment" in his campaign. He told ANI, "I express gratitude to Hanuman Beniwal for supporting me... This is a memorable moment in my life, when one of the tall leaders of our country came to extend his support..."

Vice President election 2025 live: NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan said, "The elections are taking place. It is going to be a big victory for Indian nationalism. We are all one, we will be one and we want India to become 'Viksit Bharat'..."

The 68-year-old BJP leader, hailing from the Goundar-Kongu Vellalar community and belonging to the OBC category, is contesting the vice-presidential election. A soft-spoken and non-controversial figure rooted in RSS ideology, Radhakrishnan is the only BJP leader from Tamil Nadu to have been elected to the Lok Sabha twice, in 1998 and 1999. He has been serving as Maharashtra Governor since 31 July 2024.