New Delhi. Aug 20 (UNI) The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seems poised to win the Vice
President’s election scheduled for September 9, in view of the majority of its Members in both Lok
Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The Electoral College consists of all Members of Parliament from both Houses of Parliament totalling 782, excluding six vacancies. A candidate needs at least 392 votes to win.
Looking at the strength in both Houses, the NDA has 293 MPs in Lok Sabha and 130 in Rajya Sabha. This gives the NDA a solid 422 votes, way above the majority mark, making the NDA candidate C P Radhakrishnan hot favourite.
Going by the numbers game, INDI Alliance’s Sudershan Reddy appears to have little chance.
INDI Alliance has 249 MPs in Lok Sabha and 106 in Rajya Sabha. This totals 355 votes. Although not a small number, it, however, falls short of the required 392.
Even if the INDIA Block sways smaller parties like the YSR Congress or BJD, the numbers gap remains.
The NDA, therefore, is ahead even before the election, even if there are some abstentions or there is any cross-voting which is highly unlikely.
Election to the Vice President’s office must be held within 60 days of the resignation by the earlier Vice President, in this case Jagdeep Dhankhar, and before September 19. Voting is done through secret ballot. Last date for filing nomination is tomorrow.
The NDA candidate filed his nomination today. He was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister and BJP President J P Nadda and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Four sets of papers were filed as part of the nomination process.
INDI Alliance candidate B Sudershan Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court, arrived here yesterday evening and was received at the airport by Opposition MPs. He will file his nomination tomorrow.
