BJP Claims Cross-Voting in Vice Presidential Election Amid Discrepancies

The recent vice presidential election in India revealed significant discrepancies in voting patterns, raising questions about the unity of the opposition alliance. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, CP Radhakrishnan, emerged victorious with a total of 452 votes, while his opponent, B Sudershan Reddy from the Congress party, received 300 votes. According to reports, at least 15 opposition members allegedly crossed party lines to support Radhakrishnan, suggesting divisions within the opposition bloc.

The Congress party had projected a unified front, claiming all 315 MPs from the opposition were present to cast their votes. However, the absence of these expected votes for Reddy indicates that some members may have voted differently. BL Santhosh, BJP national general secretary (organisation), suggested that the opposition’s campaign for “conscience votes” backfired. He noted the disparity in the vote count, stating, “Voting happened through ballot papers & INDI Alliance got 15 votes less than their number. The INDI alliance leaders had campaigned for conscience vote. They got it in return.”

Sources close to the NDA indicated that the cross-voting involved members from various parties, including the NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Congress itself. Additionally, the election results showed that out of 15 invalid votes, 10 were attributed to the NDA and five to the INDIA bloc. If these invalid votes had not occurred, Radhakrishnan’s victory margin would have increased.

In the aftermath of the election, PC Mody, the Returning Officer, confirmed the final tally, illuminating the discrepancies noted by observers. Despite the confidence expressed by Akhilesh Yadav, chief of the Samajwadi Party, regarding the opposition’s solidarity, the results revealed a stark contrast to the assertions made earlier in the day by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who celebrated the unity of the INDIA bloc.

The BJP has seized upon these voting irregularities as evidence of the opposition’s disunity, undermining their narrative of a cohesive alliance. The BJP’s claims suggest that the camaraderie displayed by the opposition during the recent monsoon session of Parliament was superficial.

Opposition leaders are now contemplating the implications of the vote, with initial assessments indicating potential cross-voting from parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and the DMK. Some members speculate that certain MPs may have intentionally cast “wrong votes,” further complicating the political landscape. While the opposition is expected to conduct a thorough review of the election results, the visible fissures among alliance members raise concerns about their ability to effectively challenge the NDA in future elections.

The NDA’s campaign appears robust, bolstered by the support of regional parties like YSRCP. In contrast, the opposition struggles to rally support from key players, such as the BRS and BJD, who abstained from voting altogether. Sources within the Congress party noted that some of these regional parties are in direct competition with them in various states, complicating the dynamics further.

Despite their defeat in this election, many within the Congress argue that the position of vice president is not pivotal enough to jeopardize their broader political strategy. They maintain that this setback does not detract from their narrative of “saving the Constitution” and positioning themselves as a legitimate alternative to the ruling party.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of this election will likely resonate through subsequent campaigns, shaping the strategies of both the NDA and the opposition.