Vice-Presidential Election: No Whip, Then How Are Cross-Voting MPs Punished?

Last Updated:September 09, 2025, 13:12 IST

Cross voting occurs when MPs go against their party’s official line. Although no legal penalty applies in this election, parties often take internal disciplinary measures.

CP Radhakrishnan, currently the Governor of Maharashtra, is pitted against B Sudarshan Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court

The election for Vice President, contested between between National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan and INDIA bloc candidate B Sudarshan Reddy, took place on September 9, a day later than originally scheduled.

Radhakrishnan, currently the Governor of Maharashtra, is pitted against Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court. While the numbers appear to be in favour of the NDA, both sides have raised concerns over possible cross voting, a recurring feature in past Vice Presidential elections.

Unlike most parliamentary votes, political parties cannot issue a whip in the Vice Presidential election. That leaves MPs free to exercise their choice, irrespective of party lines. The secret ballot system under Article 66 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1956, ensures that voting remains confidential.

Sudarshan Reddy has appealed to MPs to act independently. “Rise above the party whip and use your discretion," he urged, noting that the whip does not apply to this election.

Despite having the numbers, the NDA is working to prevent any surprise defections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a special dinner for alliance MPs in an effort to ensure maximum support for Radhakrishnan.

The INDIA bloc, meanwhile, is focused on safeguarding its votes. Leaders are pressing their MPs to resist crossing over.

Only members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are eligible to vote in this election. Out of 782 total seats, six remain vacant, leaving 776 MPs to cast their ballot. A candidate needs at least 349 votes to secure victory.

• NDA’s estimated strength: 422 votes (293 in Lok Sabha, 129 in Rajya Sabha)
• INDIA bloc’s estimated strength: 354 votes (144 in Lok Sabha, 210 in Rajya Sabha)

With these figures, Radhakrishnan is widely expected to win, unless unexpected cross voting alters the outcome. Voting will take place between 10 am and 6 pm, with results due the same evening.

Cross voting occurs when MPs go against their party’s official line. Although no legal penalty applies in this election, parties often take internal disciplinary measures. These include expulsion, denial of future tickets, or removal from party posts.

Past Vice Presidential polls have seen multiple instances of cross voting:

• 2017: BJP’s M Venkaiah Naidu defeated Congress’s Ghulam Nabi Azad, aided by opposition MPs who defied their party orders. Congress later expelled several members and withheld tickets from others.
• 2012: BJP-backed Jaswant Singh lost heavily to Hamid Ansari after significant cross voting against him.
• 2007: Hamid Ansari again emerged victorious, while BJP’s Najma Heptulla and SP’s Rashid Masood lost amid smaller but noticeable cross voting.

These precedents underscore why both the NDA and INDIA bloc remain cautious despite numerical strength on paper.

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