CP Radhakrishnan, nominee of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance), has been elected as the 15th Vice President of India. The mid-term elections were held as Jagdeep Dhankhar, the last Vice President, resigned from the post abruptly in July, citing health concerns.
Radhakrishnan defeated B Sudarshan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, who was jointly backed by the Opposition. He successfully won 452 valid votes in the 781-member electoral college, comprising members of both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. 15 votes were found to be invalid, while Reddy had secured 300.
About CP RadhakrishnanCP Radhakrishnan, who is a veteran BJP politician, is the current governor of Maharashtra and has also served on various parliamentary committees. Despite being elected mid-term, he will be appointed for a full five-year term in the office as the next Vice President of India.
68-year-old Radhakrishnan was born in Tamil Nadu in 1957, in the Goundar-Kongu Vellalar community. He is the third leader from Tamil Nadu to occupy the second-highest Constitutional position of India. In his early teen years, Radhakrishnan joined the Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and then rose to the higher ranks of the BJP. He had served as the BJP's State President in Tamil Nadu for several years, after which Radhakrishnan was elected as an MP from the Coimbatore constituency twice in 1998 and 1999.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to congratulate the new Vice President of India, saying that he would make an "outstanding Vice President", who will "strengthen constitutional values." Radhakrishnan is known for his ability to cut across party lines, something that makes him stand out for the role.
Dhankhar had held office in August 2022, and his term was set to end in 2027. His resignation led to speculations about a rift with top BJP leaders of the Government. He had said that there was a need to "prioritize healthcare and abide by medical advice"; however, the Opposition had highlighted that there were "far deeper concerns" behind Dhankhar's resignation.