New Delhi, Sep 9: NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan was on Tuesday elected as the new Vice President of India, securing a decisive victory over opposition candidate Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy (retd).
Announcing the results, Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P.C. Mody said Radhakrishnan polled 452 first-preference votes, while Justice Reddy received 300. A total of 752 members from the electoral college of 782 exercised their franchise, marking a high turnout.
The Vice President is chosen by an electoral college comprising 233 elected and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha (currently with five vacancies) and 543 members of the Lok Sabha (one vacancy). This year’s contest drew attention as both nominees hailed from southern states—Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu and Reddy from Telangana—turning it into a symbolic ‘South vs South’ battle.
Radhakrishnan, a veteran leader with deep roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP, was projected by the NDA as a grassroots politician with administrative experience. Justice Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge known for his strong constitutional credentials, was backed by the opposition as a candidate who could reinforce parliamentary democracy.
The election followed the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and was conducted through secret ballot.
Radhakrishnan’s win further strengthens the NDA’s hold over key constitutional positions, adding to its influence in Parliament. His election was necessitated by the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar in July, whose term was otherwise set to run till 2027.
As Vice President, Radhakrishnan will also serve as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a critical role amid ongoing disruptions and confrontations between the treasury and opposition benches.
