New Delhi, Sep 9: National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee and Maharashtra Governor, CP Radhakrishnan was elected as the 15th Vice President of India on Tuesday, securing 452 votes.

Radhakrishnan’s opponent, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy of the INDIA bloc, received 300 votes, according to the Returning Officer.

The election was necessitated by the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, who stepped down citing health concerns.

Radhakrishnan’s victory marks a continuation of NDA’s dominance in Parliament and positions him as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Voting took place in Parliament between 10 am and 5 pm, with Members of Parliament casting their ballots in a high-turnout election. Counting began immediately after polling concluded, and the results were announced by evening.

Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, has previously served as a Lok Sabha MP and held gubernatorial roles in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. His elevation to Vice President is seen as a strategic move by the NDA to consolidate influence in the upper house of Parliament.

Justice Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, was backed by the INDIA bloc in what was described as a symbolic contest aimed at upholding constitutional values. Despite the loss, opposition leaders praised the unity displayed during the election, with over 98% turnout among MPs.

With this win, Radhakrishnan will assume office as the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, playing a pivotal role in legislative proceedings and parliamentary decorum.

The Vice Presidential election, conducted through a secret ballot, involved 781 eligible MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The majority mark required to win was 391 votes, which Radhakrishnan comfortably surpassed.

His swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place later this week, formally marking the beginning of his five-year term.