In a decisive victory, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan has been elected as India’s 15th Vice President, securing 452 first preference votes in a high-stakes election held on Tuesday. The 68-year-old Maharashtra Governor and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader defeated the Opposition INDIA bloc’s candidate, retired Supreme Court Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, who garnered 300 votes, by a margin of 152 votes. Radhakrishnan is set to take oath as Vice President on September 12, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned on July 21, 2025, citing health reasons.

The election, conducted through a secret ballot using the single transferable vote system, saw robust participation, with 767 votes cast out of a 781-member electoral college, comprising Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. Of these, 752 votes were valid, and 15 were deemed invalid. The NDA’s commanding lead was bolstered by its 425 MPs and additional support from the YSR Congress Party (11 MPs), pushing Radhakrishnan’s tally well above the majority mark of 391 votes. 

Notably, at least 19 Opposition MPs are estimated to have cross-voted in favor of Radhakrishnan, highlighting significant defections that contributed to the NDA’s landslide victory.

The Opposition’s INDIA bloc, with an estimated 324 MPs, framed the election as an ideological battle, positioning Telangana born Justice Reddy, known for landmark judgments on black money and the Salwa Judum, as a defender of constitutional values. Despite a strong campaign, including a video appeal by Reddy urging MPs to vote beyond party lines, the Opposition fell short. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed a 100% turnout among the bloc’s 315 MPs, but the numbers underscored the NDA’s numerical dominance.

Regional dynamics played a key role in the election. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) abstained from voting, reducing the effective electoral college to 770 MPs. BRS’s absence, with its four Rajya Sabha MPs, was criticized by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhary, who called it “shameful” given Reddy’s Telangana roots and his contributions to the statehood movement. BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao defended the decision, citing a urea shortage affecting Telangana farmers, and rejected allegations of collusion with the BJP, asserting BRS’s commitment to regional interests.

In a surprising twist, Telangana Jagruti President K. Kavitha, despite BRS’s official abstention, publicly endorsed Reddy, praising his constitutional expertise and potential to honor the Vice President’s office. 

This move highlighted internal divergences within BRS and added a layer of complexity to the regional narrative.

The election, necessitated by Dhankhar’s abrupt exit, was marked by strategic maneuvering. The NDA’s choice of Radhakrishnan, a Tamil Nadu native with deep RSS and BJP roots, was seen as a nod to upcoming state elections, while Reddy’s nomination aimed to leverage Telugu pride. Both sides conducted mock polls to ensure voting accuracy, with the NDA hosting breakfast meetings to consolidate support. The Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was in New Delhi since Monday evening and had a meeting with Congress MPs from the state on Tuesday morning.

Radhakrishnan’s victory reinforces the NDA’s parliamentary strength and sets the stage for his role as Rajya Sabha Chairperson.

Cross voting, Invalid votes by MPs

What is striking in this VP polls is cross voting and invalid votes. Despite both the ruling NDA and the Opposition India Bloc conducting exclusively workshop on how to cast their votes in the VP polling, 15 votes found to be invalid and 18 votes found to be cross voting. How can MPs sitting in the Parliament to decide the policies that have impact on people in this country are unable to cast their votes in proper manner even after undergoing demo lessons? This shows the level of some of the MPs.

13 MPs reportedly indulged in cross voting. This again shows the trust deficit of the MPs on their own parties. MPS from BRS, BDS have abstained from voting which is once again show their parties leaders’ personal interests above the Country’s. The VP polls once again brought to fore the real intentions of some of the political parties and MPs.

INDI Alliance candidate Just Sudarshan Reddy got 300 votes, he was expecting a minimum of 324. Then who ditched India allaince?