NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan elected as India’s 17th Vice President, securing 452 of 752 valid votes. Evidence of cross-voting emerges as Opposition candidate B Sudarshan Reddy falls short.
Key Highlights
- CP Radhakrishnan elected as 17th Vice President of India with 452 votes.
- Opposition candidate B Sudarshan Reddy secured 300 votes.
- Evidence of cross-voting as Radhakrishnan exceeded NDA’s estimated tally.
- Winning margin of 152 votes narrower compared to Dhankhar’s record margin in 2022.
- High voter turnout of 98.2% among MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
- Celebrations underway at NDA camp; PM Modi to join later.
CP Radhakrishnan Secures Victory in VP Polls
New Delhi: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan was elected as the 17th Vice President of India on Tuesday, defeating Opposition candidate B Sudarshan Reddy in a closely watched contest.
Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader and former Maharashtra Governor, secured 452 of the 752 valid votes cast, giving him a winning margin of 152 votes. His rival Reddy managed to secure 300 votes, slightly below the Opposition’s calculation of 315.
Cross-Voting Boosts NDA Candidate
The results reflected cross-voting in Radhakrishnan’s favor, as he polled nearly 25 votes more than the NDA’s projected strength of 427 MPs. On the other hand, Reddy fell short of the expected Opposition tally, signaling internal dissent among Opposition ranks.
The electoral college for the Vice President’s election consists of members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Out of 781 electors, 767 votes were cast, representing a high turnout of 98.2%.
Narrower Margin Compared to Dhankhar’s Record
While Radhakrishnan’s win cements NDA’s hold on the Vice President’s office, his margin of victory is narrower compared to his predecessor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who set a record in 2022 with the highest winning margin in six VP elections. Dhankhar had bagged 528 votes against Congress veteran Margaret Alva’s 182, securing a 72.8% vote share.
By contrast, Radhakrishnan secured 60% of valid votes, making his victory significant but less emphatic in historical comparison.
For perspective, the biggest ever VP win remains that of KR Narayanan in 1992, when he secured 700 out of 701 valid votes against Independent candidate Kaka Joginder Singh.
Celebrations at NDA Camp
Soon after the declaration of results by Returning Officer PC Mody, jubilations broke out at the NDA camp. Celebrations were led by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi at his residence, where party workers and leaders gathered to mark the occasion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to join the celebrations after returning from his visit to flood-hit areas in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Senior BJP leaders hailed Radhakrishnan’s victory as a testimony to NDA’s united strength and the resonance of Modi government’s policies even beyond its alliance.