New Delhi: Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA nominee, won the Vice-Presidential election with 452 first preference votes, amid signs of cross-voting.

Radhakrishnan succeeds Jagdeep Dhankhar

New Delhi: Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan was on Tuesday elected as the new Vice President of India, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar. The 68-year-old NDA candidate secured 452 first preference votes, defeating Opposition nominee and retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, who polled 300 votes.

According to Returning Officer PV Mody, of the 754 votes cast, 15 were declared invalid. Radhakrishnan’s winning margin stood at 150 — one of the lowest in recent Vice-Presidential elections. By comparison, in 2022, Jagdeep Dhankhar had defeated Opposition candidate Margaret Alva by a record margin, securing 528 votes against her 182.

Cross-voting raises questions

The results revealed considerable cross-voting, with at least 14–15 MPs from the Opposition camp believed to have backed the NDA’s candidate. While the NDA, along with its ally YSR Congress, had a total strength of 438 MPs, Radhakrishnan received 452 votes — clearly indicating support from outside the bloc.

This sparked celebration in the NDA camp and raised questions about Opposition unity. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took a swipe at the Congress on X, asking: “Which 15 people ran away and voted for us?”

Meanwhile, the Opposition candidate received only 300 votes, despite the Congress claiming support of 315 MPs. The cancellation of 15 votes has added to the uncertainty over where the Opposition’s numbers went amiss.

Who is CP Radhakrishnan?

Radhakrishnan, a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, has held several key roles in his political career. He was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore and previously served as the BJP’s Tamil Nadu state president.

He also served as the Governor of Jharkhand between February 2023 and July 2024, in addition to holding additional charges as the Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Known for his long-standing association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jan Sangh, Radhakrishnan has been active in public life since his youth.

The BJP is said to have strategically chosen him to strengthen its political footprint in the South, where it continues to look for breakthroughs beyond Karnataka. His reputation as an affable leader with cross-party goodwill also aligns with the ruling alliance’s message of balance and cooperation in the Rajya Sabha.

Congress reaction

Following the result, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated Radhakrishnan but urged him to uphold democratic values. “We hope the new Vice President-elect will uphold the highest ethos of Parliamentary traditions, ensuring equal space and dignity for the Opposition, and not succumb to pressures of the ruling dispensation,” Kharge posted on X.

He further added that the Vice President’s office — the second-highest constitutional position in India’s order of precedence — must reflect “independence, fairness, and strength in safeguarding democratic values.”

Conclusion

Radhakrishnan’s election marks both continuity and change. While the BJP and NDA celebrated another strategic win ahead of upcoming state elections, the slim margin and visible cross-voting underlined fissures within the Opposition ranks. His tenure as Vice President will be closely watched, particularly for how he balances cooperation with the government and fairness towards the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.