The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to reveal its Vice Presidential candidate on August 12, 2025, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda tasked with finalizing the nominee, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The announcement follows a key meeting of NDA floor leaders at the Parliament complex, prompted by the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2025, due to health concerns.
The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw the attendance of prominent leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, Milind Deora, Praful Patel, Chirag Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha, Ram Mohan, Lallan Singh, Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel, and Ramdas Athawale. The coalition focused on strategizing for the upcoming Vice Presidential election, scheduled for September 9, 2025, with nominations due by August 21.
Dhankhar’s resignation, announced on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, came as a shock. In his letter to President Droupadi Murmu, the 74-year-old cited medical reasons for stepping down, effective immediately, under Article 67(a) of the Constitution. However, the Opposition, particularly Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, raised suspicions, noting that Dhankhar seemed in good spirits during a phone call just hours before the announcement, suggesting there may be deeper reasons behind the exit.
The NDA, which holds a majority with 422 MPs in the electoral college of 786 members (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), is confident of securing the Vice Presidential post. To ensure a smooth voting process, the alliance is planning detailed training sessions for its MPs, as the election involves a secret ballot and party whips are not applicable. This cautious approach follows recent challenges in maintaining unity during House votes.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, representing Shiv Sena, has pledged unconditional support to the NDA’s candidate, strengthening the alliance’s position. The coalition is also considering strategic candidates, with names like Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, and even JP Nadda being discussed, though no official confirmation has been made.
