New Delhi:  C. P. Rdhakrishnan, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee and Governor of Maharashtra, has been elected as the 15th Vice President of India after securing a decisive victory in the election held on Tuesday.

Radhakrishnan won with 452 votes, defeating his rival B. Sudershan Reddy, the INDIA bloc candidate and former Supreme Court judge. The election was necessitated by the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in July this year due to health concerns.
Out of an electoral college of 781 Members of Parliament, 766 cast their votes, while around 12 to 14 abstained.

The voting, conducted through a secret ballot in the New Parliament Building, began at 10 a.m. and concluded at 5 p.m. Counting commenced shortly after 6 p.m., with the result declared later in the evening.

The election witnessed a remarkable voter turnout of over 98 percent, reflecting the significance of the contest.

Radhakrishnan’s victory strengthens the NDA’s hold over the key constitutional office, with the Vice President also serving as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The outcome is seen as a political setback for the opposition INDIA bloc, which fielded Reddy in an attempt to mount a challenge.

This election marks a historic transition, coming at a crucial time in national politics. Radhakrishnan will soon take oath and assume office, stepping into one of the highest constitutional roles in the country.