BJD-BRS Abstention in Vice-President Polls: What It Means as Congress Sends Mixed Signals
BJD-BRS Abstention in Vice-President Polls Gives NDA Edge Over INDIA Bloc
BJD-BRS abstention in Vice-President polls has shifted the political equation ahead of Tuesday’s election. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) from Odisha and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) from Telangana announced they will abstain from voting, distancing themselves from both the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc. A senior BJD leader stated, “The BJD remains equidistant from both the NDA and INDIA.”
This move strengthens NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan, giving him a clear advantage over INDIA bloc’s nominee Justice B Sudershan Reddy in the numbers game.
Reacting to the decision, Congress leader Srikant Jena criticized BJD and BRS, saying, “Their abstention equals support to the NDA government. They are indirectly backing the NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate.”
Meanwhile, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP openly declared support for the NDA candidate. Congress leader Manickam Tagore slammed Jagan Reddy, accusing him of “betrayal” and claiming, “By supporting an RSS-backed candidate, he chose fear of CBI cases over Andhra Pradesh’s interests. This is not strategy; this is surrender to Modi–Babu’s pressure.”
Tagore further added, “Jagan’s compromise will be remembered as the day he placed personal survival above people’s mandate. Andhra deserved courage. He chose cowardice.”
History won’t forget Mr. @ysjagan’s betrayal. By supporting an RSS-backed candidate for Vice President, he has chosen fear of CBI cases over the interests of Andhra Pradesh. This is not about strategy. This is about surrender—surrendering to Modi–Babu’s pressure, instead of…
— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) September 9, 2025
Vice-President Polls Today: Voting Begins at Samvidhan Sadan
Vice-President polls start today at 10 AM in Vasudha Hall of the new Parliament building, now called Samvidhan Sadan. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat announced that polling will continue until 5 PM on September 9, and officials will declare the results later in the evening.
The Opposition framed the election as a battle between the Constitution and the RSS, while the BJP intensified its attacks on B Sudershan Reddy, the INDIA bloc’s candidate. On the eve of the polls, BJP criticized Reddy for seeking support from Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD president convicted in the fodder scam involving corruption and financial irregularities during his tenure.