In a closely watched electoral contest, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan has been elected as the 15th Vice President of India, defeating Opposition candidate B. Sudershan Reddy with a commanding tally of 452 votes.
The election, held on Tuesday at Parliament House, marks a significant win for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), reinforcing its dominance in the upper echelons of Indian politics.
The voting process, which ran from 10 AM to 5 PM, saw an impressive 96% turnout by 3 PM, with 766 out of 781 eligible Members of Parliament casting their ballots. Fourteen MPs abstained, including representatives from parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which had announced a boycott citing various grievances with the central government. The electoral college comprised 542 Lok Sabha members (with one vacancy) and 239 Rajya Sabha members (with five vacancies), requiring a simple majority of 391 votes to win.
Radhakrishnan, born in 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, brings a wealth of experience to the role. A long-time RSS swayamsevak and BJP veteran, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore twice (1998 and 1999), chaired parliamentary committees on textiles, finance, and public sector undertakings, and represented India at the UN General Assembly in 2004. He served as Tamil Nadu BJP president from 2004 to 2007, chaired the Coir Board, and held gubernatorial positions in Jharkhand, Telangana, Puducherry, and, most recently, Maharashtra since July 2024. His victory was bolstered by the NDA’s approximate strength of 439 MPs, plus support from allies like the YSR Congress Party and potential cross-votes.
Opposition candidate B. Sudershan Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge born in 1946 in Telangana, received an estimated 314 votes, reflecting the INDIA bloc’s consolidated effort. Reddy, who practised law in Hyderabad and served as a judge in the Andhra Pradesh High Court (1995), Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court (2005), and Supreme Court justice (2007-2011), was positioned by the Opposition as a defender of constitutional values. The bloc, including parties like Congress, AAP, and others, claimed a rare 100% turnout among its 315 MPs, framing the election as an “ideological battle” to protect democracy.
The election was triggered by the unexpected resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2025, due to health concerns, necessitating this early poll just 50 days later. Notable moments included Prime Minister Narendra Modi casting the first vote, followed by key figures such as Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Jailed Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid (Engineer Rashid) was granted special permission to vote.
As Vice President, Radhakrishnan will also serve as the Rajya Sabha Chairperson, a role crucial for legislative proceedings. His election underscores the NDA’s continued grip on power, even as the Opposition demonstrates growing cohesion ahead of future battles.
