Victory of nationalistic ideology,says President-elect C P Radhakrishnan

He won the vice presidential election by a margin of 152 votes. While Mr Radhakrishnan bagged 452 votes, his opponent B Sudershan Reddy polled 300 votes.

In his first public remarks after the victory, Vice President-elect said, the opposition alliance said that this election is an ideological fight, but from the voting pattern, we understand that the nationalistic ideology has emerged victorious.

Mr Radhakrishnan said, it is a victory for every Indian and we all have to work together if we have to make India a developed nation by 2047. He said, in his new capacity, he will try his best for the development of the nation.

Vice President-elect said, in democracy, both the ruling party and opposition parties are important. It is like two sides of the same coin. The interest of democracy will be taken into account, he said.

Seen as a soft-spoken and non-confrontational leader, 67-year-old Radhakrishnan succeeds Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as vice president on July 21 on health grounds.

The victory of Radhakrishnan, a seasoned politician from Tamil Nadu, was a foregone conclusion due to the ruling alliance’s numerical edge. He is the third leader from Tamil Nadu to occupy the coveted post.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have congratulated Mr Radhakrishnan, saying his decades of rich experience in public life will contribute significantly to the nation’s progress, strengthen constitutional values and enhance parliamentary discourse.

Mr Radhakrishnan thanked President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi for their best wishes on his election to the second-highest constitutional post of the country.

Losing candidate Sudershan Reddy said he humbly accepts the result and wishes Mr Radhakrishnan the very best in his new role.