Radhakrishnan Wins Vice-Presidential Election
Opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy secures 300 votes in a decisive outcome
By : AMRESH SRIVASTAVA
Update: 2025-09-09 04:29 GMT
New Delhi: NDA candidate and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan was elected as the 15th Vice-President of India on Tuesday after defeating the Opposition’s candidate Justice B. Sudershan Reddy (retd) by 152 votes. Radhakrishnan bagged 452 of the total 767 votes, against Justice Reddy's 300, winning the contest with a bigger than expected margin, indicating cross-voting from the rival camp.
Announcing the result of the election, Rajya Sabha Secretary-General and returning officer P.C. Mody said 767 MPs had cast their votes out of the total valid electors of 781, 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.
"I declare Mr Radhakrishnan elected to the post of Vice-President of India and the results will be communicated to the Election Commission," Mody said.
Though the victory of Radhakrishnan, 67, a seasoned leader with an RSS background and decades-long stint first in the Jana Sangh and then the BJP in Tamil Nadu, was a foregone conclusion due to the ruling alliance's numerical edge, the extent of his victory margin is a setback to the Opposition.
Hours before the result, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh had claimed that the Opposition had stood united. "All of its 315 MPs have turned up for voting," he said.
The final tally in favour of Justice Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge, was 300, decidedly less than expected by the Opposition camp, as some MPs unaligned to the two blocs had also announced their support for him.
The 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.
Saffron party 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 Justice Reddy, and the senior BJP leader's comments were seen as a retort to them. Some NDA leaders hinted that some Opposition MPs from Maharashtra voted in support of Radhakrishnan.
Congratulating Radhakrishnan, President Droupadi Murmu said his rich experience in public life would contribute significantly to the nation's progress.
Congratulating the Vice-President-elect, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: " His life has always been devoted to serving society and empowering the poor and marginalised," and added, "I am confident that he will be an outstanding VP, who will strengthen our Constitutional values and enhance Parliamentary discourse."
Later in the evening, Modi reached Union minister Pralhad Joshi's residence to congratulate Radhakrishnan. BJP president J.P. Nadda and several Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Kiren Rijiju, among others, visited to congratulate the newly elected V-P.
In a first public statement since demitting office on July 21, former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar extended greetings to his successor, saying that the office of the Vice-President will attain greater glory with his vast experience. In a letter to Radhakrishnan, Mr Dhankhar said, "Your elevation to this august office reflects the trust and confidence by the representatives of our nation."
The Opposition’s candidate said he humbly accepted the result and wished the vice-president-elect the very best as he embarked upon his tenure.
Soon after NDA nominee was declared elected to the post of vice-president, Mr Reddy said that though the result was not in his favour, the larger cause "we have collectively sought to advance, remains undiminished and the ideological battle continues with ever greater vigour," he said in a statement.
Radhakrishnan will be India's 15th Vice-President when he is sworn in to the post. Seen as a soft-spoken and non-confrontational leader, he succeeds Dhankhar and is the third leader from Tamil Nadu to occupy the coveted post.
The V-P poll was held due to the sudden resignation of Dhankhar on July 21, almost two years before his term was to end.
2025-09-09 15:07 GMT
Your decades of rich experience in public life will contribute significantly to the nation's progress: President Murmu to Radhakrishnan.
2025-09-09 14:55 GMT
Though result not in my favour, ideological battle continues with ever greater vigour: B. Sudershan Reddy after VP poll defeat
Opposition stood united for vice presidential election, its performance has undeniably been most respectable: Cong after VP poll result
Our democracy is strengthened not by victory alone, but by spirit of dialogue, dissent, participation: B Sudershan Reddy after VP poll defeat
I wish vice president-elect C P Radhakrishnan the very best as he embarks upon his tenure: B Sudershan Reddy after VP poll defeat
We hope vice president-elect will uphold highest ethos of parliamentary traditions, ensuring equal space for Opposition: Kharge
This was more than an election, it was a battle of ideology: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after VP poll results
Best wishes to C P Radhakrishnan on securing victory in vice presidential election: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge
BJP's arithmetical victory in VP poll is both moral and political defeat; ideological battle continues undiminished: Congress' Jairam Ramesh
PM Modi congratulates Radhakrishnan on VP poll win; says his life devoted to serving society, empowering poor. He expresses confidence that Radhakrishnan will be an outstanding VP, who will strengthen constitutional values. PM Modi expresses confidence that Radhakrishnan will be an outstanding VP, who will strengthen constitutional values.
Former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar congratulates C P Radhakrishnan on being elected as next VP.
2025-09-09 14:25 GMT
“I humbly accept the outcome, with abiding faith in the democratic processes of our great republic,” said Opposition nominee B. Sudershan Reddy after the VP poll
2025-09-09 14:16 GMT
Total 767 votes were cast in Vice Presidential polls, 752 were valid and 15 were invalid: Returning Officer P.C. Mody
2025-09-09 14:16 GMT
I declare CP Radhakrishnan elected to post of Vice President; result to be communicated to EC: Returning Officer P C Mody
2025-09-09 12:50 GMT
Counting of votes for Vice Presidential election begins
2025-09-09 12:15 GMT
Voting for the Vice President election has concluded; counting starts at 6 pm with results expected by evening.
2025-09-09 11:58 GMT
“There are always claims of the opposition, this is not new. Even after losing, they celebrate… This time also, we will win, and they will be happy,” — Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister
2025-09-09 11:29 GMT
Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur expressed confidence that NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan has secured victory in the Vice Presidential election.
2025-09-09 10:51 GMT
Polling in the Vice Presidential election on Monday saw a 96% turnout by 3 pm, with voting continuing until 5 pm and results expected by 7:45 pm.