In Vice-Presidential Elections, Venkaiah Naidu Has Edge On Gopal Gandhi

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M Venkaiah Naidu, the candidate of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, is expected to be India's next Vice President as Members of Parliament cast their vote today. Results will be declared by the evening after lawmakers cast their vote during the day in Parliament House.

 The NDA, which has a majority in the Lok Sabha, will find it easy to place its candidate as the next vice president. The opposition has fielded former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi against Mr Naidu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to cast their votes in Parliament.

"I am a non-party man. Majority of the political parties are supporting me. I am confident that they will vote in the polls," Venkaiah Naidu told reporters this morning. "NDA's pick is a very experienced person. My contest is not with him, though it's on technical grounds. 

Though the JD(U) has broken ties with 'mahagathbandhan' and joined hands with the BJP to form a new government in Bihar, it will vote for Mr Gandhi, a former governor of West Bengal. 

The counting of votes will commence after polling and the results will be declared by 7 pm, Election Commission officials said quoting precedents.

 The total strength of the two Houses is 790, but there are two vacancies in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha. BJP MP in Lok Sabha Chhedi Paswan is barred from casting vote following a judicial pronouncement. In the 545-member Lok Sabha, the BJP has 281 members.

 The NDA led by BJP, has 338 members. In the 245-member Rajya Sabha, the BJP has 58 members making it the single-largest party, while the Congress has 57. The one who gets 50 per cent and one vote of the total valid votes cast will win the poll.

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