With 452 first-preference votes, Radhakrishnan will succeed Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice-President and Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, September 9, 2025 — Amid cross voting by Opposition MPs, he National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-backed candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan won the Vice-Presidential election held today, defeating the INDIA bloc’s nominee, B. Sudarshan Reddy, by a margin of 152 votes. The result further consolidates the NDA’s dominance in Parliament, coming just weeks after its successful handling of the presidential election and key legislative debates in the monsoon session.
CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA candidate for the post of the Vice President, will succeed Jagdeep Dhankhar in the post. The 68-year-old baffed 452 first preference votes, leaving Opposition candidate and retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy trailing with 300 first preference votes.
The scale of verdict shows that at least 11 Mps from the opposition ranks voted in favour the NDA candidate,.
Voting and Results
The election was conducted at Parliament House, where Members of Parliament from both Houses cast their ballots.
The Election Commission announced the results late in the evening, confirming a decisive win for the NDA camp.
The run-up to the Vice-Presidential election witnessed intense, high-pitched campaigning from both the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc. The NDA leadership projected C. P. Radhakrishnan as a seasoned parliamentarian with wide administrative experience and strong organizational roots in the BJP, while the INDIA bloc highlighted B. Sudarshan Reddy’s credentials as a former judge with a clean image. Senior leaders from both alliances personally reached out to MPs across party lines, holding strategy sessions in Delhi and issuing strict voting advisories to ensure maximum turnout.
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Speculation of cross-voting had dominated political chatter in the days leading up to polling. Opposition leaders claimed discontent within certain NDA allies could tilt the balance, while BJP managers suggested unease among some regional parties aligned with the INDIA bloc might aid Radhakrishnan. Political observers anticipated defections that could make the contest closer than projected. These claims were amplified across social media, creating a sense of uncertainty around the final outcome.
🚨 NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan win VP elections
Total votes : 767
NDA : 452
INDI alliance : 300
Invalid votes : 15#vpelection2025 #CPRadhakrishnan #VicePresidentElection2025 pic.twitter.com/4tdPMWSAWb— Alok Anand Dubey (@alokanandbjp) September 9, 2025
However, the results firmly negated these rumors. The NDA’s numbers held strong, with allies such as JD(U), Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and key regional parties voting solidly for Radhakrishnan. On the Opposition side, INDIA bloc MPs also remained largely loyal to Sudarshan Reddy, with no major signs of desertion. The vote tally mirrored the strength of both blocs in Parliament, demonstrating that despite heated speculation, party whips and last-minute persuasion ensured discipline within the ranks.
Significance of the Victory
With this win, the NDA now holds both of the country’s top constitutional positions after the President and Vice-President, further strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political standing. The Vice-President of India is not only the second-highest constitutional authority but also serves as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, playing a crucial role in guiding debates and ensuring smooth functioning of the Upper House.
Political analysts suggest that the NDA’s win underscores its numerical advantage in Parliament and the fragmentation within the Opposition bloc, despite their recent attempts to unify under the INDIA alliance.
