C P Radhakrishnan Elected 15th Vice President of India in High-Stakes Parliamentary Vote

The Vice Presidential election of India concluded on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate C P Radhakrishnan declared the winner, becoming the 15th Vice President of India.

Polling took place in the newly built Parliament complex from 10 AM to 5 PM, witnessing a high voter turnout of over 98% among the Members of both Houses of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first to cast his ballot, accompanied by Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jitendra Singh, and L Murugan, signaling the importance of the election. Despite abstentions from some parties like BRS, BJD, and Shiromani Akali Dal, the BJP-led alliance maintained a clear numerical advantage.

The key contenders were C P Radhakrishnan, the NDA candidate and Maharashtra Governor, and B Sudershan Reddy, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc) nominee and former Supreme Court Judge. The contest followed the unexpected resignation of the previous Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, in July 2025 due to health reasons.

Counting began at 6 PM under the supervision of Returning Officer P C Mody, Rajya Sabha Secretary General. After counting the votes, Radhakrishnan secured 452 first preference votes, defeating Sudershan Reddy with a majority margin of 152 votes out of a total of 781 electors (with 767 voting).

Following the election result, Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Radhakrishnan, praising his grassroots experience and administrative acumen and expressing confidence that he would strengthen parliamentary democracy and serve marginalized communities. Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge acknowledged the election as a "battle of ideology," highlighting the polarized political backdrop.

The election was marked by organized campaigning efforts, internal party meetings on voting procedures, and mock polls to ensure smooth voting by members. Celebrations by NDA ministers have been planned ahead of the official announcement, reflecting the significance of this constitutional office in India's parliamentary system.

C P Radhakrishnan’s election underscores the BJP-led NDA's continuing influence in Parliament and fills the Vice Presidential vacancy left after Dhankhar prioritized his health by resigning. As Vice President, Radhakrishnan will also serve as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, playing a pivotal role in presiding over the upper house of Parliament.