NDA's CP Radhakrishnan is India's next Vice-President
BJP leaders are quick to claim that at least 15 Opposition MPs voted in favour of Radhakrishnan.
NDA candidate C P Radhakrishnan was elected the next vice-president of India on Tuesday (September 9) as he bagged 452 votes against the Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy's 300, winning the contest with a bigger-than-expected margin, indicating cross-voting from the rival camp.
Announcing the result of the vice-presidential election this evening, Rajya Sabha secretary general and returning officer P C Mody said 767 MPs cast their votes out of the total valid electors of 781 in a turnout of 98.2 per cent. He said 752 ballots were valid and 15 were invalid, bringing down the required majority of first preference votes to 377.
Though the victory of Radhakrishnan (67), currently the Maharashtra governor and a seasoned leader with an RSS background and decades-long stint first in the Jan Sangh and then the BJP in Tamil Nadu, was a foregone conclusion due to the ruling alliance's numerical edge but the extent of his victory margin is seen as a setback to the Opposition.
Opposition MPs cast invalid votes?
BJP leaders were quick to claim that at least 15 opposition MPs voted in favour of Radhakrishnan. There were hints from the ruling alliance that some Opposition MPs deliberately cast invalid votes.
"I declare C P Radhakrishnan elected to the post of Vice President of India and the results will be communicated to the Election Commission," Mody said.
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal claimed that "nearly 40 opposition MPs" listened to the voice of their conscience and voted in "some manner" in support of the NDA candidate, showing a wider acceptance for him. His assertion of support from 40 opposition MPs appeared to include several invalid votes.
Some opposition leaders had appealed to MPs' conscience in the polls to support Reddy, and the senior BJP leader's comments were seen as a retort to them.
"Congratulations to Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji on winning the 2025 Vice Presidential election. His life has always been devoted to serving society and empowering the poor and marginalised," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X.
"I am confident that he will be an outstanding VP, who will strengthen our Constitutional values and enhance Parliamentary discourse," he said.
Radhakrishnan isIndia's 15th vice president when he is sworn in to the post.
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- 9 Sept 2025 10:13 AM IST
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Voting begins for vice presidential election; PM Modi first to cast vote
Voting began for the vice presidential poll on Tuesday (September 9), with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the first to cast his vote.
The poll is witnessing a direct contest between ruling NDA nominee C P Radhakrishnan and joint opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy, with the BJP-led alliance having a clear edge in the poll necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Among the early voters were Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kiren Rijiju. Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Harivansh, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav were among others who came to cast their vote.
Members of both Houses of Parliament will cast their votes in the Parliament House between 10 AM and 5 PM on Tuesday. Counting votes will begin at 6 PM, and the results will be announced late evening.
- 9 Sept 2025 10:11 AM IST
CP Radhakrishnan will surely win the VP elections: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi
On the Vice Presidential election, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi says, "NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan will surely win the Vice-President elections..."
- 9 Sept 2025 10:09 AM IST
Mahagathbandhan leaders will also vote for the NDA candidate: Sanjay Kumar Jha
On the Vice Presidential election, JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha says, "NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan will get more votes than the number of the NDA alliance. Many leaders of the Mahagathbandhan will also vote for the NDA candidate. CP Radhakrishnan ji has nominated me as his polling agent..."
- 9 Sept 2025 10:06 AM IST
PM Modi leaves after casting his vote for the Vice Presidential election
Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from the Parliament House after casting his vote for the Vice Presidential election. NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan faces the Opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee and former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy in this election.
- 9 Sept 2025 10:03 AM IST
Modi arrives at the Parliament to cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Parliament House to cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election. NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan faces the Opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee and former Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy in this election.
- 9 Sept 2025 10:01 AM IST
We will win the elections 100 per cent: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey
On the Vice Presidential election today, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "Did he (opposition's Vice Presidential candidate, B. Sudershan Reddy) save the constitution by saving Naxalism?... We all saw the misery in Chhattisgarh...Congress is doing politics on blood...We will win the elections 100 per cent".
- 9 Sept 2025 9:59 AM IST
Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, Telangana is because of Oppn's VP candidate: Union Minister Lallan Singh
On the Vice Presidential election Union Minister Lallan Singh says, "We will surely win the elections. The naxalism in Chhattisgarh and Telangana was a big problem and because of the opposition's Vice Presidential candidate, B. Sudershan Reddy, one decision, there were a lot of problems there..."
- 9 Sept 2025 9:57 AM IST
RSS never speaks against the country, but Congress does: Union Minister Kishan Reddy
On the Vice Presidential election today, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy says, "He (CP Radhakrishnan) is an RSS man. What is there to hide? RSS is an Indian organisation. RSS never speaks against the country, against the EC, against the Parliament, against the SC, against the Army - something which Rahul Gandhi and Congress do..."
- 9 Sept 2025 9:54 AM IST
Dhankar's silence is 'uncharacteristic', nation waits for him to speak out: Congress
The Congress on Tuesday (September 9) said that former vice president Jagdeep Dhankar has maintained an uncharacteristic silence for 50 days now and as the election for his successor gets underway, the nation continues to wait for him to speak out.
A direct contest is taking place between NDA's C P Radhakrishnan and the Opposition's B Sudershan Reddy for Tuesday's vice presidential election, with the BJP-led alliance having a clear edge in the poll necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Dhankhar.
Congress general secretary, Jairam Ramesh said that for 50 days now, Dhankar has maintained an "uncharacteristic silence".
"Today as the election for his successor gets underway, the nation continues to wait for him to speak out after his unprecedented and unexpected resignation as VP following the expression of his concerns on the deep neglect of farmers by the Modi government, on the dangers posed by 'ahankar' of those in power, etc.," Ramesh said.
