The NDA&rsquo;s nominee and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has been elected the 15th Vice-President of India, securing a comfortable victory over Opposition candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy.
Radhakrishnan polled 452 first preference votes, while Justice Reddy secured 300, as announced by Rajya Sabha Secretary-General PC Mody. The margin of victory stood at 152 votes. Voting began at 10 AM and concluded at 5 PM, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later meeting and congratulating Radhakrishnan on his win.
&ldquo;Opposition&rsquo;s vice-presidential candidate Justice Sudershan Reddy secured 300 first preference votes,&rdquo; PC Mody declared while announcing the result.
This victory marks the rise of a veteran BJP leader to one of the highest constitutional offices. A former Lok Sabha MP, Radhakrishnan is credited with laying the BJP&rsquo;s organisational foundation in Tamil Nadu during his tenure as state party president between 2004 and 2007. He also served as Governor of Jharkhand before his current posting in Maharashtra.
The Opposition had fielded Justice B Sudershan Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge known for his five-year tenure on the apex court bench. His candidature was symbolic, making him the first former top court judge to contest a vice-presidential election.
Meanwhile, regional parties chose to abstain, turning the contest into a commentary on state-level politics. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) justified its absence as part of its strategy of &ldquo;maintaining an equal distance&rdquo; from both national blocs. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) described its move as a show of &ldquo;anguish&rdquo; on behalf of Telangana&rsquo;s farmers over the shortage of urea. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announced a boycott citing the devastation caused by floods in Punjab.
With the numbers stacked in his favour, Radhakrishnan&rsquo;s win was anticipated, but the abstentions underscored the shifting dynamics of India&rsquo;s regional players as they navigate between national coalitions and local compulsions.

NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan wins with 452 votes, Justice Reddy trails by 152

Radhakrishnan elected India’s 15th VP

NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan wins with 452 votes, Justice Reddy trails by 152

September 10, 2025 | 16:54 IST