Explainer: India’s Vice-Presidential Race – From Dhankhar’s Exit To Radhakrishnan vs Reddy – Who Wins The Gossip Battle?

The sudden vacancy that launched a thousand jokes, WhatsApp groups lit up, memes did overtime, and some even suggested Parliament should hold auditions rather than elections. After all, if the role is half protocol and half performance, why not see who can keep a straight face while refereeing the nation’s noisiest argument hall?

When Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation in July, citing health concerns, he triggered a constitutional scramble more dramatic than an episode of a political drama.

His exit, effective immediately under Article 67(a), left the nation clutching its collective breath: who’d step into the empty Rajya Sabha chair and become the second-in-command (and just a phone call away from the presidency)? Some joked that Parliament might set up a bingo board for who’ll blink next.

The Players Enter the Field

On 17 August, the NDA announced their candidate: CP Radhakrishnan, the friendly Governor of Maharashtra and former BJP leader in Tamil Nadu. A few days later, the INDIA bloc picked B Sudarshan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge.

One is a well-known politician, the other a judge who became a leader. It’s an interesting mix of East and South, politics and law, but the goal is the same: win over the MPs.

The Election Commission released the timetable in early August. Nomination papers were due by the 21st, with scrubbing and withdrawals wrapped up by the 25th.

In Parliament’s newly built F-101 room, a compact but intimate hall, the vote began on Tuesday, 9 September—silent ballots and whispered understandings shaping the room.

The electorate? All MPs, both elected and nominated from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, cast their ballots between 10 AM and 5 PM. The results were counted starting at 6 PM, so by the time the evening tea was over, there would be a new Vice-President.

Why This Race Looks Like a Smooth Ride for NDA?

Numbers don’t lie. The NDA has a majority in both Houses, so Radhakrishnan is in a strong position. Yet opposition MPs are unlikely to vote unanimously for Reddy, opening the door for small surprises or, at least, eyebrow-raising antics during counting.

And some parties are sitting this one out: BRS, Shiromani Akali Dal and a couple of individual MPs have decided abstention is the new art of protest.

As a lighthearted diversion, opposition MPs ran a mock election ahead of the real ballot, a performance they knew would end in loss. Moments later, the true vote began.

Prime Minister Modi cast the first vote, a tradition that adds ceremony and symbolism to the moment.

What Exactly Is the Vice President’s Role?

If you’re expecting power that can shift tectonic plates, think again. The VP chairs the Rajya Sabha and stands in for the President when they’re away-but mostly, the post offers prestige, protocol, and a cushy official residence with Lutyens-Delhi air.

The real executive muscle, as always, lies elsewhere.

Editorial View

Let’s call it: CP Radhakrishnan will likely walk into that Rajya Sabha chair with the grace of a seasoned actor re-entering a stage he already owns. Sudarshan Reddy will wave a dignified adieu, justice still partly served by virtue of the contest.

And Dhankhar? He’s comfortably ensconced in a Lutyens bungalow, pension and all, sipping holistic tea: job done, with flair.

If politics is indeed a performance, India scripts roles better than any playwright. And this time, the NDA script seems nigh on unassailable, but watch for that one unexpected line during the count. Cue applause, fade to black until the next act.

Also read: LIVE: Vice Presidential Election: Voting Underway