September 9, 2025: Maharashtra Governor and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee C. P. Radhakrishnan has been elected as the 17th Vice President of India, defeating Justice (Retd.) B. Sudershan Reddy, the candidate of the INDIA bloc, in a high-stakes election marked by heavy parliamentary participation.
Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes out of 767 valid ballots, while Justice Reddy received 300 votes. A total of 15 ballots were declared invalid, with 13 MPs abstaining. The vacancy arose after former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned in July citing health issues.
A Decisive Win for NDA
The outcome reinforced NDA’s numerical strength in Parliament. Despite the INDIA bloc’s united campaign, reports of cross-voting by at least 15 opposition MPs weakened their tally. Analysts credited the NDA’s floor coordination and strategic outreach for the comfortable margin of victory.
With this win, the NDA continues its control of the Vice Presidency, following the tenures of M. Venkaiah Naidu and Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Political Reactions
In his address after the result, Radhakrishnan termed the outcome “a victory for nationalistic ideology” and called for unity.
“Both ruling and opposition parties are two sides of the same coin. Our collective effort should aim at making India a developed nation by 2047,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cast the first vote, congratulated him, praising his lifelong work for marginalized communities. Former Vice President Dhankhar expressed confidence that Radhakrishnan would bring “greater glory” to the office.
The opposition, though defeated, framed the contest as an ideological battle and reaffirmed their commitment to a strong, ethical opposition within Parliament.
Cross-Voting and Turnout
The election recorded a turnout of 98.2%, one of the highest in recent years. Out of 781 eligible MPs, 767 cast votes. Reports suggested that cross-voting matched the number of invalid ballots, underlining shifting loyalties and political fluidity in Parliament.
Both camps had prepared meticulously, holding mock voting sessions to avoid invalid ballots. However, the NDA’s stronger cohesion and regional coordination by senior ministers were seen as decisive.
Who is CP Radhakrishnan?
Born in Tamil Nadu, C. P. Radhakrishnan began his career as a student leader and rose through the ranks of the RSS and Jan Sangh before joining the BJP.
He served two terms as Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore and has been Governor of Jharkhand, Telangana, Puducherry, and Maharashtra. Known for his clean image and people-centric politics, he enjoys respect across party lines. His election also reflects the BJP’s effort to give greater southern representation in top constitutional posts.
The Role Ahead
The Vice President is India’s second-highest constitutional authority and serves as Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. With frequent disruptions in the Upper House, Radhakrishnan’s emphasis on dialogue and cooperation will be closely watched.
The election highlighted the vibrancy of Indian democracy, marked by civility across party lines. A symbolic moment came when Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge walked hand in hand to cast their votes.
As Radhakrishnan takes office, his challenge will be to balance the ruling coalition’s legislative agenda with the opposition’s demand for space, ensuring that Parliament remains a forum for constructive debate and national progress.
