CP Radhakrishnan took oath as the 15th Vice President of India on Friday. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. Moreover, several senior leaders and dignitaries attended the ceremony, making it a significant political event.

Leaders Gather for the Ceremony

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present at the ceremony, along with former Vice Presidents Jagdeep Dhankhar and M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Additionally, former President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and several chief ministers, including N. Chandrababu Naidu and Pushkar Singh Dhami, were also in attendance.

NDA Candidate Secures Clear Victory

Radhakrishnan, a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, has long-standing ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
He won 452 votes, defeating Opposition candidate B. Sudershan Reddy, who received 300 votes.
As a result, Radhakrishnan emerged as the clear winner in the high-stakes election.

Furthermore, 767 MPs cast their votes, marking a 98.2 percent turnout. Out of these, 752 votes were valid, while 15 were invalid, bringing the majority mark to 377 votes.

Cross-Voting Sparks Speculation

On paper, the NDA had 427 MPs supporting its candidate. In addition, 11 MPs from the YSRCP voted for Radhakrishnan.
However, he received 14 votes more than expected, which fueled speculation of cross-voting from the Opposition camp.

PM Modi Extends Congratulations

Following the announcement of results, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Radhakrishnan.
He stated that the new Vice President would “strengthen India’s constitutional values and contribute positively to parliamentary discourse.”
Consequently, Modi expressed confidence in Radhakrishnan’s ability to play a vital role in national governance.

Several MPs Abstain from Voting

Meanwhile, 13 MPs abstained from the election. These included seven from the BJD, four from the BRS, one from the SAD, and one Independent MP.