Explained | Fight for VP chair: How numbers stack up for NDA, I.N.D.I.A. bloc candidates in Parliament

Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan is NDA's candidate while the opposition came out with a surprise package in the name of ex SC judge B Sudershan Reddy.

The sudden resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the beginning of Parliament's Monsoon session has created a political vacuum which both the I.N.D.I.A. bloc and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are now vying to fill.

The vice presidential elections slated for September 9 will see a tough competition between candidates of the ruling party and the opposition.

NDA announced Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as their vice-presidential candidate, while the opposition came out with a surprise package in the name of former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy.

Let's take a look at the how the upcoming vice-presidential elections can play out.

The numbers game

The Vice President will be elected via an Electoral College which includes Members of Parliament of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Currently, the total strength of the house stands at 782. Thus to win, a candidate must have more than half of the total votes -- 392 -- to be elected.

But if we look at the number game, at the moment the NDA candidate has the upper hand.

The BJP-led NDA has 423 MPs, with 293 in Lok Sabha and 130 in Rajya Sabha, automatically giving them an edge over the opposition provided all NDA allies support in favour of Radhakrishnan.