In a decisive victory for the NDA, former Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan is the 15th Vice President of India. The election, held on September 9, 2025, at the new Parliament building, saw over 98% voter turnout, with members of both Houses of Parliament casting their votes. Radhakrishnan secured 452 first-preference votes, comfortably defeating his challenger from the INDIA bloc, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, who polled 300 votes.
The election was necessitated by the sudden resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, citing health reasons. The polling concluded at 5 PM, and the counting began an hour later under the supervision of Returning Officer P.C. Modi, Rajya Sabha Secretary General. The BJP-led NDA’s clear majority in Parliament made Radhakrishnan’s win widely anticipated, yet it marked a significant political moment for the ruling coalition.
Following his victory, C.P. Radhakrishnan described the result as a triumph of ‘nationalistic ideology.’ He further vowed to work toward the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. Moreover, he emphasized that this is not just a political win but a call to focus on development rather than division, as he said in his first public address after the results.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the first to cast his vote, congratulated the Vice President-elect, highlighting his lifelong dedication to public service and empowerment of the marginalized. President Droupadi Murmu also extended her wishes and, in addition, praised Radhakrishnan’s decades of rich experience in public life.
Radhakrishnan will strengthen constitutional values, foster healthy parliamentary debates, and drive India’s development agenda forward as he takes oath.