Strategic Silence: BRS and BJD Opt Out of Vice Presidential Election

In a move that underscored their distinctive political positioning, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) strategically chose to abstain from the Vice Presidential election. This decision, coming from two parties with significant parliamentary presence, highlighted a calculated 'equidistance' from both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the united Opposition.

Sources within both parties indicated that the primary reason for their abstention was a perceived lack of consultation by the NDA leadership regarding their candidate, Jagdeep Dhankhar.

While not explicitly opposing Dhankhar, the parties conveyed their discontent over being excluded from the dialogue process. Simultaneously, they demonstrated an unwillingness to automatically align with the Opposition's choice, Margaret Alva, thereby meticulously navigating the complex political landscape without fully committing to either side.

The BJD, under the astute leadership of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, commands a notable presence with 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 9 in the Rajya Sabha.

Similarly, the BRS, spearheaded by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, holds 9 Lok Sabha seats and 7 Rajya Sabha seats. Cumulatively, their decision meant a significant block of approximately 37 votes was not cast, a factor that undoubtedly influenced the final tally.

Ultimately, the abstention indirectly cleared the path for the NDA candidate.

Jagdeep Dhankhar, the former Governor of West Bengal, comfortably secured the Vice President position with a decisive victory, garnering 528 votes against Margaret Alva's 182. The absence of the BRS and BJD votes from the opposition's count, while not a direct endorsement, certainly eased Dhankhar's path to victory.

This is not an isolated incident for either party.

Both the BRS and BJD have a well-established history of maintaining independent stances on national issues. Their actions often reflect a regional focus and a strategic desire to avoid being fully subsumed into either of the two major national political camps. This latest move in the Vice Presidential election further solidifies their reputation as independent political forces, capable of influencing outcomes through their considered non-participation.