Overview

• Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the INDIA bloc unanimously chose B. Sudarshan Reddy, who will file his nomination by August 21.
• The NDA earlier named Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging lawmakers to elect him unanimously.
• The Election Commission set polling for September 9 with counting the same day, and the electoral college comprises MPs from both Houses voting by secret ballot using a single transferable vote.
• Media tallies project the NDA at roughly 422 supporting MPs, well above the majority threshold in the low 390s, making Radhakrishnan the clear frontrunner.
• The race carries a South-versus-South subtext and cross-party outreach, with YSR Congress backing Radhakrishnan, the TDP reiterating support, and NDA efforts to court other regional parties.