C P Radhakrishnan, the NDA’s pick for India’s Vice President, has won the high-stakes election with a clear majority. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate secured 452 votes, beating his rival, former Supreme Court judge V Sudarshan Reddy from the opposition INDIA bloc, who got 300 votes. This victory highlights the NDA’s strong hold in Parliament and its solid coalition unity.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported a total of 767 votes cast in this Vice Presidential election, with 752 valid and just 15 invalid. To win, a candidate needed at least 377 votes, and Radhakrishnan easily crossed that mark. Voting kicked off at 10 am and wrapped up at 5 pm in Parliament House’s Vasudha room, with counting starting right after at 6 pm. Turnout was impressive at 96%, showing how seriously MPs took this India Vice President poll.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the way by casting his vote first, joined by Union Ministers like Kiren Rijiju and Arjun Ram Meghwal. Other big names who voted included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Nitin Gadkari. Even senior leaders like 92-year-old former PM H D Deve Gowda, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra showed up to vote. In a secure setup, jailed MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid from Baramulla also participated.
Not everyone joined in, though. Thirteen MPs from parties like Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and some independents chose to abstain. Party sources say this move aimed to focus on state issues and stay neutral between the NDA and the INDIA alliance.
The opposition called this an “ideological battle” and claimed all 315 of their MPs voted solidly for Reddy. But Radhakrishnan’s win points to the NDA’s tight-knit teamwork and PM Modi’s hands-on approach. A BJP MP shared that the Prime Minister personally ensured every party member knew the voting process inside out.
The ECI had announced the election on August 7, with nominations closing on August 21. Scrutiny happened on August 22, leading to two valid candidates—no one withdrew by the August 25 deadline. This set the stage for the September 9 poll.
Now, Radhakrishnan will take the oath as the 15th Vice President of India on Wednesday, with President Droupadi Murmu, Parliament members, and top officials present. His five-year term runs until 2030, unless something changes earlier. As Rajya Sabha Chairperson, he’ll lead the Upper House and step in as Acting President if needed, just like the Constitution’s Articles 67 and 71 outline. This new chapter promises steady leadership for India’s parliamentary system.
