In a high-stakes mid-term election held on 9 September 2025, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan was officially elected as the 15th Vice President of India, securing an emphatic victory with 452 votes over the opposition’s B. Sudershan Reddy, who secured 300 votes, reported Mint.
Record Turnout, Unexpected Margin
The election witnessed near-total participation, with 767 MPs casting their ballots out of 781 electors, resulting in an impressive 98.2 percent voter turnout. Of these, 752 ballots were valid, while 15 were declared invalid, setting the majority threshold at 377 votes.
Radhakrishnan’s 152-vote margin of victory highlighted not only the NDA’s parliamentary strength but also pointed towards possible cross-voting from the opposition benches. This development has triggered questions about the cohesion of the INDIA bloc, which had projected a united front going into the polls.
Profile in Brief: A Leader with an RSS Legacy
C. P. Radhakrishnan, the former Governor of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu BJP veteran, has roots deep in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Jana Sangh since his teenage years. His political career spans decades, during which he served as a two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore, the state president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, and Chairperson of the Coir Board before taking up gubernatorial responsibilities. His rise to the office of Vice President reflects both his long service within the party and his reputation as a disciplined, grassroots leader.
Legacy of Resignation Sparks Early Election
This election was necessitated by the unexpected resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in July 2025, who stepped down citing health concerns—two years before the scheduled end of his term in 2027. Constitutionally, Article 68 mandates swift elections in such cases, making this the first early vice-presidential election in India since 1987.
Analysis: What the Numbers Reveal
The NDA’s numerical dominance in Parliament, supplemented by allies such as the YSR Congress Party and other regional players, had already made Radhakrishnan’s victory appear likely. What surprised observers, however, was the margin of victory. Instead of the anticipated 440 votes, the NDA tally reached 452, suggesting defections from within the INDIA bloc.
Reports of at least 15 instances of cross-voting, along with the 15 invalid ballots, point towards significant cracks in opposition unity. The INDIA bloc, formed as a counterweight to the NDA, had invested heavily in this election to demonstrate its relevance. Instead, the results underscored its struggles with cohesion and strategy.
National Reactions: Congratulatory Messages Roll In
Leaders across the political spectrum extended their greetings to the newly elected Vice President. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and President Droupadi Murmu hailed Radhakrishnan’s humility, constitutional commitment, and service record.
In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also congratulated him, praising his governance record and personal discipline. Meanwhile, opposition leaders such as Supriya Sule called for careful analysis before drawing conclusions about cross-voting and invalid ballots.
Implications for India’s Political Landscape
The victory reinforces NDA’s legislative dominance and projects strength ahead of upcoming parliamentary and regional contests. For the INDIA bloc, the fissures exposed during this election are worrying and underscore the challenge of maintaining ideological alignment across diverse parties.
For Radhakrishnan, his election marks not just personal achievement but also a symbolic moment for the BJP, which has long sought to strengthen its presence in Tamil Nadu. His tenure will be closely watched for how he balances constitutional responsibility with his political legacy.
Photo Credit: X/@narendramodi
