Vice Presidential Election: BJP Parliamentary Board Meeting underway with PM Modi, Amit Shah and key leaders
With the NDA holding a substantial majority in both Houses of Parliament, the ruling alliance’s candidate is widely expected to secure a comfortable victory in the election.
The BJP's crucial Parliamentary Board meeting is now underway, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other senior leaders present at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi. The meeting aims to finalise the party’s candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election, scheduled for September 9, 2025, following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health reasons. Key decisions on the NDA's nominee are expected to be made during this pivotal session.
Crucial decisions at the BJP parliamentary board meeting
The meeting is expected to be a decisive one for the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as they deliberate on a candidate for the Vice Presidency. According to party sources, the focus will be on selecting a candidate who can effectively represent the NDA's interests in the upcoming elections.
"The BJP Parliamentary Board meeting is scheduled for 17 August 2025 at the BJP office in Delhi. All parliamentary board members will attend. There could be discussions on the NDA's candidate for the post of Vice-President of India," ANI quoted a party source.
PM Modi and Nadda to lead the decision-making process
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda are set to play pivotal roles in the selection process. A recent meeting of the NDA leaders had already indicated that the final decision regarding the Vice Presidential candidate would be taken by Modi and Nadda, with unanimous approval from all NDA members. The NDA leadership is expected to announce the final pick shortly after the party's internal deliberations.
Potential candidates for the vice presidential election
Speculation has been rife regarding the potential candidates for the position of Vice President, with several prominent names being discussed within the ruling alliance. According to reports, the list of probable candidates includes:
- Arif Mohammad Khan, Governor of Bihar
- Thawarchand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka
- Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat
- Om Mathur, Governor of Sikkim
- Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir
- VK Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
- Seshadri Chari, RSS ideologue
- Harivansh, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
The NDA’s decision on the candidate is expected to take into account both the party’s strategic interests and the candidate’s ability to win the support of the members of Parliament.
Numbers in favour of NDA’s candidate
The Vice Presidential election is conducted by a vote of members from both Houses of Parliament — the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. With a combined effective strength of 781 members, a candidate needs at least 391 votes to secure victory.
With the NDA holding a substantial majority in both Houses of Parliament, the ruling alliance’s candidate is widely expected to secure a comfortable victory in the election. The NDA currently commands the support of 422 Members of Parliament, ensuring that its chosen candidate will likely win the election with a strong mandate.
The BJP’s Parliamentary Board meeting is a key moment in the lead-up to the Vice Presidential election, as the NDA solidifies its candidate choice. As the nation awaits the final announcement, all eyes are on the party's leadership, who will decide the fate of the Vice Presidential race in September 2025. With the support of the majority in Parliament, the NDA is poised to maintain a significant presence at the helm of India’s democratic institutions.