PM Modi casts first vote in VP election.
In the vice presidential election, conducted through secret ballot, party whips hold no binding force, allowing MPs freedom to cast votes independently.
New Delhi, September 9 – Voting was underway on Tuesday to elect India’s new Vice President, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi setting the tone for the day as the very first to cast his vote. The election has drawn attention not only for its outcome but also for the personalities involved, as the ruling NDA’s candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan faces off against the joint opposition nominee, B. Sudershan Reddy.
101, “Vasudha,” inside the Parliament building. After casting his vote, Modi took to X, writing, “Voted in the 2025 Vice President election,” before immediately leaving for a tour of flood-affected regions in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, signaling the balance he continues to maintain between governance and political duties.
The atmosphere inside Parliament carried a mix of seriousness and camaraderie. The 92-year-old former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, arriving in a wheelchair, drew attention and respect as he entered the polling booth. In another moment that stood out, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were seen walking together, hand in hand, towards the booth — a symbolic gesture that showed how elections, despite political rivalries, often bring leaders across parties under one roof in a spirit of democracy.
The contest itself is straightforward but significant. With the NDA holding a clear numerical advantage in the electoral college, Radhakrishnan is seen as the frontrunner. The ruling alliance currently commands the support of 425 MPs, comfortably above the majority mark of 391. On the other side, the opposition, though united in backing Reddy, has the support of 324 members.
The present strength of the electoral college stands at 781, as six seats in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha remain vacant. Voting is being conducted through a secret ballot system, ensuring complete freedom for MPs to exercise their choice without the binding of party whips.
By the end of the day, India will know who will take charge as the next Vice President, a role that carries not only the responsibility of presiding over the Rajya Sabha but also of stepping in during times of constitutional necessity. For now, the corridors of Parliament remain abuzz with anticipation.