CP Radhakrishnan on Friday took oath as the 15th Vice President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan, with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath of office.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, and several other dignitaries attended the ceremony. According to an NDA source, the timing of the oath ceremony was chosen as it was considered “auspicious” by the pandit consulted.
Leaders from across the country were present, including Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, and Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar.
Radhakrishnan, the NDA nominee, was elected Vice President on Tuesday after securing 452 votes against Opposition candidate and former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy, who polled 300. Out of 781 MPs, 767 cast their votes, marking a 98.2% turnout. Of the 752 valid ballots, Radhakrishnan crossed the required majority of 377 votes with ease.
The NDA’s official strength stood at 427 MPs, but support from 11 YSRCP MPs and unexpected cross-voting saw Radhakrishnan secure 14 votes more than anticipated. Meanwhile, 13 MPs abstained, including seven from the BJD, four from the BRS, one from the SAD, and one Independent.
A seasoned BJP leader, Radhakrishnan previously served as Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand, as well as holding additional charge of Telangana and Puducherry. He has been twice elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore and also served as BJP’s Tamil Nadu State President.
