Introduction
The 2025 Vice-Presidential election of India concluded with a decisive victory for the NDA candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan, reaffirming the ruling coalition’s numerical strength in Parliament and exposing cracks within the opposition bloc.
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Election Outcome
●
Winner: C. P.
Radhakrishnan (NDA) – 452 votes
●
Runner-up:
B. Sudarshan Reddy (Opposition/INDIA bloc) – 300 votes
●
Total votes
cast: 767 out of 781 (98.2% turnout)
●
Valid votes: 752
●
Invalid votes: 15
●
Required
majority: 377 (secured comfortably)
Provisions Related to
the Vice-President of India
● The Vice-President of India holds the second-highest constitutional office after the President. Enshrined under Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution, the office ensures stability in governance and parliamentary functioning.
● The Vice-President serves as a crucial link between the executive and the legislature, being both the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and the constitutional successor to the President in certain contingencies.
Tenure and Resignation
●
Term: 5
years, but continues until a successor assumes office.
●
Resignation:
Submits to the President; effective from date of acceptance.
●
Removal:
○
By a resolution of the Rajya Sabha, passed by a
majority of its members.
○
Must be agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
○
Requires 14 days’ prior notice before moving the
resolution.
Eligibility Criteria
To contest for
Vice-President, a person must:
●
Be a citizen of India.
●
Have completed 35 years of age.
●
Be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya
Sabha.
●
Not hold any office of profit under the Union, State,
local, or public authority.
Electoral College
(Article 66)
The Vice-President is
elected indirectly through an Electoral College comprising:
●
Elected members of the Rajya Sabha.
●
Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha.
●
Elected members of the Lok Sabha.
Note: Unlike the
President’s election, State Legislatures do not participate in the
Vice-President’s election.
Election Procedure
●
Article 68:
Election must be completed before the term of the outgoing Vice-President
expires.
●
Authority:
Conducted under Article 324, by the Election Commission of India, as per:
○
Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.
○
Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules,
1974.
●
Notification:
Issued on or after the 60th day before expiration of the term.
●
Value of votes:
Each MP’s vote has equal value = 1.
●
Returning
Officer: Appointed by ECI (rotationally between Secretaries-General of Lok
Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
●
Polls Venue:
Parliament House (as per Rule 8, 1974 Rules).
●
Voting System:
Proportional representation by means of single transferable vote and secret
ballot.
Functions and Role
●
Ex-officio
Chairperson of Rajya Sabha: Ensures order, discipline, and legislative
functioning.
●
Successor Role:
Acts as the President when:
○
A vacancy arises due to death, resignation, removal, or
otherwise.
○
The President is unable to discharge functions.
●
Cannot hold any office of profit simultaneously.
Conclusion
The office of the Vice-President of India embodies the constitutional principles of checks and balances by ensuring legislative leadership and continuity in executive authority. Though not as powerful as the President, the Vice-President’s role is indispensable for the smooth functioning of the Parliamentary democracy of India.