BJP’s Sansad Karyashala Vs Congress’s Mock Poll: How Parties Are Preparing For September 9 VP Polls | Politics News

Last Updated:September 08, 2025, 17:04 IST

There are only two candidates in the current VP polls – CP Radhakrishnan of ruling National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) and Sudershan Reddy of Congress-led opposition

Both polling and counting will take place on September 9. (File)

The Vice-Presidential polls in India are different from the usual elections and use a special set of rules, prompting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold a ‘Sansad Karyashala’ for its MPs so that not even a single vote is wasted. The Congress, too, is holding a mock poll on Monday to train the opposition MPs on the procedure to vote in the September 9 elections.

Here’s why.

The training for 2025 VP polls

There are a total of 732 votes – covering MPs from both Houses. Even as invalid votes have not impacted the past few VP polls results, parties do not want to waste a single vote in the process.

The BJP’s three-day workshop started on Sunday and was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day.

The workshop, according to BJP leaders, is aimed at sensitising lawmakers about the voting procedure and other key aspects they need to follow while casting their votes, particularly for the first-time MPs.

Both polling and counting will take place on September 9 at Parliament House.

How VP polls work

As per the ECI rules, the Ballot papers for Vice-Presidential elections are printed in pink colour with two columns – first column containing the names of the candidates and, the second column, for making preference by the elector for each such candidate. The ballot papers are printed in Hindi and English.

The VP polls are different from the Presidential election as the value of every vote cast in the Vice-Presidential election has the same value as one.

In accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, every elector can mark as many preferences, as there are candidates contesting the election.

“These preferences for the candidates are to be marked by the elector, by placing the figures 1,2,3,4, 5 and so on, against the names of the candidates, in the order of preference,” the rules said.

There are only two candidates in the current VP polls – CP Radhakrishnan of ruling National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) and Sudershan Reddy of Congress-led opposition.

The marking by each voter – member of parliament – has to be in the space provided in column 2 of the ballot paper only. The preference by each voter can be indicated in international form of Indian

numerals or in the form used in any Indian language or in Roman form but the preferences can not be indicated in words like ‘one’, ‘two’, ‘first preference’, second preference.

Also, the marking of the first preference is compulsory for a ballot paper to be valid. Marking other preferences is optional.

The winning candidate has to secure the required quota of votes to be declared elected – 50% of the valid votes cast plus one additional vote.

Why training is crucial

The training is important for a number of reasons including the fact that unlike Parliamentary and Assembly elections, an elector cannot take the help of a companion. The only help a voter can take is the assistance of the Presiding Officer to record the vote.

The unique voting system — different from Parliamentary or Presidential elections – makes these workshops necessary.

The major fear for the candidates and the fielding parties is the invalid votes – as there can be cases of MPs cross voting since the MP can vote according to their choice and wish and are not bound by any party whip.

Grounds for invalid votes

The Returning Officer can reject a ballot paper as invalid if a number of cases – the first preference is not marked or it is marked against more than one candidate or is marked in a manner which renders it doubtful as to which candidate it is intended to apply.

The votes will be invalid if the first preference and some other preferences is marked against the name of a candidate.

The votes will be invalid if there is any mark by which the elector may be identified. “A postal ballot may be rejected if the signature of the elector on the declaration and the attestation form received with the ballot paper is not duly attested by the authority specified in such form,” the rules read.

The counting of the votes is done after the valid ballot papers are segregated from the invalid ones.

In 2022, when Jagdeep Dhankhar was elected, a total of 15 votes were found invalid. In 2017, when M Venkaiah Naidu was elected as the VP, there was an electoral college of 785 eligible members and 771 votes were cast out of which 11 were declared invalid. In 2012, when Hamid Ansari was re-elected, there were 787 eligible votes, but 47 skipped voting and eight votes were found invalid.

With just two candidates in the fray, both the ruling NDA and the opposition know that every valid mark on the pink ballot could make a difference — and no party wants to risk losing ground to an avoidable mistake.

That’s why both sides are investing in training their MPs — every vote counts, and no party wants to be embarrassed by wasted ballots.

Nivedita Singh

Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More

Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More

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