NDA’s C. P. Radhakrishnan Elected Vice President of India
C. P. Radhakrishnan Elected Vice President of India
C. P. Radhakrishnan has been elected as the Vice President of India, securing a victory in the parliamentary poll held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The Maharashtra Governor, who was the NDA’s official nominee, will now assume the office as the ex‑officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned earlier this year.
The election saw the ruling NDA field Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan against the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc’s candidate, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy.
The election was necessitated after Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down from the post on July 21, citing health concerns, almost three years into his term. The Election Commission notified the schedule in August, setting September 9 as the polling date.
The Vice President is elected by an electoral college comprising members of both Houses of Parliament. Voting took place in Parliament House from 10 am to 5 pm through secret ballot. As per constitutional provisions, political parties could not issue whips, leaving MPs free to vote as they wished.
By the end of polling hours, officials reported a turnout of over 98.2 per cent. Counting of votes began soon after the ballot boxes were sealed at 6 PM, with results expected later in the evening.
Vice President Radhakrishnan will serve as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
The contest carried political weight with both camps framing it as a test of strength in Parliament. The NDA pitched Radhakrishnan, a former BJP leader with long organisational experience, as a consensus figure, while the INDIA bloc projected Reddy as an independent-minded jurist.
Some regional parties, including the BRS, the BJD and the Shiromani Akali Dal, chose to abstain from the poll. The BRS, citing farmers’ distress, said it would not back either nominee.
Mock voting sessions were held earlier in the week to familiarise MPs with the process. The ballot being secret has also raised the possibility of cross-voting, a factor closely watched by both sides through the day.
Vice President Radhakrishnan will be sworn in by the President and is expected to take charge of Rajya Sabha proceedings in the upcoming session.