Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to host dinner for INDIA bloc MPs ahead of Vice-Presidential polls

Justice (retired) B Sudershan Reddy (left) and CP Radhakrishnan with PM Modi

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge will host a dinner for INDIA bloc MPs on Monday evening at the Parliament annexe, ahead of Tuesday’s Vice-Presidential election.

The gathering is aimed at reinforcing the opposition’s unity and backing for their Vice-Presidential candidate, B Sudershan Reddy, who has also received the support of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

"@TelanganaCMO spoke to me today and requested that we support Justice Sudershan Reddy as Vice President. @aimim_national will extend its support to Justice Reddy, a fellow Hyderabadi and a respected jurist," Owaisi wrote in a post on social media platform X.

The election, scheduled for September 9, will witness a direct contest between Justice (Retd.) B Sudershan Reddy, backed by the INDIA bloc, and the NDA's nominee, CP Radhakrishnan.

The Vice Presidential post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons.

The VP is elected through an electoral college, which consists of MPs from both houses of Parliament.

The election of the Vice President is governed by the provisions under Articles 64 and 68 of the Constitution. The Election Commission notifies the VP polls by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.

As per Article 66(1) of the Constitution of India, the election of the Vice President shall be held by the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also issued a letter to all its Members of Parliament (MPs), directing them to reach Delhi by September 6.

BJP national president JP Nadda has invited all party MPs for a dinner at his residence on September 6 at 7 pm. On September 7, the MPs have been instructed to attend a party workshop scheduled from 9 am till late evening.

The workshop will continue on September 8 from 3 pm to 6 pm at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament complex. Later that evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for all MPs of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at his residence.