National Desk, Assam Barta, September 9, – India’s Vice Presidential election is set to take place today, Tuesday, September 9, with all arrangements finalized by the Election Commission of India (ECI). This crucial poll to fill the vacancy left by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation will see voting and counting conducted on the same day at Parliament House in New Delhi. The contest pits the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, against the opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee, retired Supreme Court Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy.
A total of 782 Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, form the electoral college and will decide the fate of the two candidates. Under Article 66(1) of the Indian Constitution, the Vice President is elected indirectly by this body through a system of proportional representation using a single transferable vote via secret ballot. Unlike general elections, no Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used; instead, MPs will vote using paper ballots.
Polling will commence at 10 a.m. in Room F-101, Vasudha (first floor, Parliament House), and continue until 5 p.m. Counting of votes begins at 6 p.m., with results expected shortly thereafter. A senior ECI official confirmed in an interview: “All preparations for today’s Vice Presidential election are complete. 782 members from both Houses are eligible to vote. Voting via ballot paper will occur from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the designated room, followed by counting at 6 p.m. and a swift result announcement.”
