NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Governor and NDA nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan was elected the new Vice President of India on Tuesday, defeating opposition candidate and former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy in a closely watched electoral battle.
Announcing the results, Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P.C. Mody said Radhakrishnan secured 452 first preference votes, while Justice Reddy received 300 votes. A total of 752 Members of Parliament participated in the voting process out of 782 eligible voters, marking a high turnout.
The Vice President is elected by an electoral college comprising members of both Houses of Parliament — 233 elected and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha (currently five seats vacant), and 543 members of the Lok Sabha (with one vacancy). The election was conducted through a secret ballot, using the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
This year’s contest drew special attention as both candidates hailed from southern India, with Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu and Justice Reddy from Telangana, making it a rare “South vs South” face-off in a major constitutional election.
A veteran political leader and long-time RSS functionary, Radhakrishnan was projected by the NDA as a grassroots leader with extensive administrative and legislative experience. In contrast, the opposition backed Justice Reddy as a respected legal luminary who they believed would uphold constitutional values from the Vice President’s office.
The election was held following the unexpected resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar in July, well ahead of the completion of his term in 2027.
With this win, Radhakrishnan adds to the NDA’s control over top constitutional posts in the country. As Vice President, he will also serve as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a critical role in maintaining order and facilitating legislative business in the Upper House, which has witnessed frequent disruptions in recent sessions.
Radhakrishnan is expected to take the oath of office later this week.
- SA Report
