In a decisive win, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan has been elected as the 17th Vice President of India, securing 452 votes in today’s vice president election. His rival, Sudarshan Reddy of the INDIA bloc, garnered 300 votes, losing by a margin of 152 votes. The election was necessitated following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who stepped down citing health reasons.
Of the 767 votes in the electoral college, 14 were declared invalid. Among the remaining 752 valid votes, Radhakrishnan clinched a clear majority. His victory had been anticipated, given the NDA’s numerical strength in Parliament.
Also read: Indian Vice-Presidential elections begin: Radhakrishnan vs Reddy in high-stakes face-off
Congratulatory Messages Pour In
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and several NDA leaders extended their congratulations to the newly elected Vice President. Leaders from opposition parties, while acknowledging their defeat, also conveyed their wishes to Radhakrishnan, underlining the importance of the office in upholding democratic values.
Profile of the New Vice President
Born in 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan brings decades of political and administrative experience. Since July 2024, he has been serving as the Governor of Maharashtra. Earlier, he held gubernatorial posts in Jharkhand, with additional charges as Governor of Telangana and Puducherry.
Radhakrishnan’s political journey began in the Lok Sabha, where he was elected from Coimbatore in 1998 and re-elected in 1999. He later served as the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP (2004–2007) and was in charge of the Kerala BJP unit (2020–2022).
Significance of the Election
With this victory, Radhakrishnan assumes a crucial role as the second-highest constitutional authority in India, presiding over the Rajya Sabha. His election reinforces the NDA’s parliamentary dominance while marking a new phase in his long political career.