Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 9: Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA nominee, has been elected as the next vice president of India, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar. The 68-year-old secured 452 first preference votes, defeating opposition candidate and retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, who polled 300 votes.

Out of the 754 votes cast, 15 were declared invalid. Of the valid votes, Radhakrishnan secured a clear lead with 452, while Justice Reddy managed 300, according to returning officer PV Mody.

The winning margin of 150 is among the lowest recorded in recent vice-presidential elections. In 2022, Jagdeep Dhankhar had defeated Margaret Alva with a margin of 346 votes, one of the highest in history.

Cross-voting impact

The results indicated cross-voting, largely from opposition ranks. While the NDA strength in the electoral college was 427, supported by 11 MPs from YSR Congress, the expected tally was 438. However, Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes, indicating support from at least 14 MPs outside the NDA fold.

Congress had claimed support of 315 opposition MPs, but Justice Reddy secured only 300 votes, further suggesting internal divisions. The rejection of 15 votes also raised questions on the opposition’s internal discipline.

Celebrating the outcome, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey asked in a social media post, “Which 15 people ran away and voted for us?” He added that the result showed fissures within the opposition ahead of upcoming state polls.

Profile of CP Radhakrishnan

A veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan has twice represented Coimbatore in the Lok Sabha and also served as the party’s state president. He was governor of Jharkhand between February 2023 and July 2024, and also held additional charge as governor of Telangana and lieutenant governor of Puducherry.

Known for his affable nature and cross-party friendships, his candidature was seen as a strategic move by the BJP to create ripples in Tamil Nadu politics ahead of assembly elections.

Congress response

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, while congratulating Radhakrishnan, urged him to uphold parliamentary traditions and provide equal space to the opposition.

“The vice president, the second highest constitutional office, must reflect independence, fairness, and commitment to safeguarding democratic values,” Kharge said.