C. P. Radhakrishnan, the candidate of India’s ruling BJP-led coalition, has been elected as the country’s new Vice President, defeating former Supreme Court Justice Sudarshan Reddy.
According to the BBC, Tuesday’s (September 9) mid-term election was necessitated by the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar a few weeks ago. In the 781-member electoral college — comprising members of both houses of Parliament — Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes, while Reddy received 300. Fifteen ballots were declared invalid.
A long-time BJP politician, Radhakrishnan is currently serving as the Governor of Maharashtra and has been active in various parliamentary committees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him, saying he would be an “exceptional Vice President” and would “further strengthen constitutional values.”
Dhankhar’s resignation in July triggered speculation that his departure was linked to friction with the BJP leadership. He, however, cited medical advice and the need to prioritize health. Congress leaders claimed there were deeper reasons behind the resignation, though Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed such allegations as baseless.
Despite being elected mid-term, Radhakrishnan will serve a full five-year tenure.
Born in 1957 in Tamil Nadu, the 68-year-old began his political career with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological base of the BJP. He rose steadily within the party ranks, even serving as state president, and was elected to Parliament twice from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999.
Known for his amiable nature and bridge-building across political divides, Radhakrishnan is expected to leverage these qualities in his new role. Before taking the oath, he must resign from his gubernatorial post in Maharashtra.
Constitutionally, the Vice President of India is the country’s second-highest officeholder, serves as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and temporarily assumes the duties of President if the office falls vacant.
