The Shiv Sena (UBT) has called for compulsory voting in the elections of the president and vice-president, condemning political parties for abstaining and engaging in ‘horse-trading.’ In its editorial in Saamana, the party criticized the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for abstaining from the recent vice-presidential poll, alleging intimidation by central agencies and unconstitutional behavior. The editorial urged Vice-President Radhakrishnan to enact laws to prevent such practices.

In the vice-presidential election held on September 9, 767 MPs voted, resulting in CP Radhakrishnan of the BJP-led NDA winning the post. Opposition parties expressed concerns over alleged vote-buying and questioned the Election Commission’s impartiality, citing reports of MPs being lured with foreign trips in exchange for their votes.