CP Radhakrishnan wins VP election, cross-voting controversy

CP Radhakrishnan wins VP election, cross-voting controversy

NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan has secured a decisive victory in the Vice-Presidential election, winning with a clear margin over the opposition candidate. However, the triumph has been overshadowed by allegations from the opposition, who claim there were instances of cross-voting and invalid ballots during the polling. While the ruling alliance celebrated the outcome as a mandate in their favor, opposition leaders argued that irregularities must be thoroughly investigated. The controversy has shifted focus from Radhakrishnan’s win to the credibility of the electoral process itself.

CP Radhakrishnan Wins Vice-Presidential Election, But Cross-Voting Allegations Dominate Political Discourse

The Vice-Presidential election on Tuesday concluded with a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate, CP Radhakrishnan. Backed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes, comfortably defeating the opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee, B Sudhershan Reddy, who managed 300 votes. The margin of 152 votes underscored the NDA’s numerical advantage in Parliament, yet the celebrations were dampened by the shadow of cross-voting allegations that dominated post-election discussions.

Out of 781 MPs eligible to cast their vote, 767 participated in the polling process. According to the Election Commission, 752 ballots were declared valid, while 15 were invalidated. The outcome was straightforward, but the numbers soon began to tell a more complicated story.

Opposition Faces Embarrassment

Leaders of the INDIA bloc had initially boasted of a strong turnout, claiming all 315 MPs aligned with the opposition camp had voted. However, the final tally revealed a shortfall, with Reddy garnering only 300 votes. The missing 15 votes immediately raised eyebrows and triggered speculation of cross-voting or deliberate invalidation.

For an alliance that had hoped to demonstrate unity and strength, the result came as an embarrassment. Instead of a symbolic challenge to the NDA, the INDIA bloc found itself grappling with questions about loyalty, discipline, and cracks within its ranks.

Allegations and Counterclaims

BJP leaders wasted little time in seizing the moment. Party MP Sanjay Jaiswal claimed that at least 14 opposition MPs had voted in favor of the NDA candidate, while another 15 had deliberately invalidated their votes, either by design or out of negligence. “This shows the lack of confidence and coordination within the INDIA bloc,” Jaiswal said, framing the development as proof of the opposition’s fragility.

Opposition leaders, meanwhile, accused the ruling alliance of exaggerating the numbers to create divisions. They admitted the shortfall but suggested that confusion during voting and technicalities might have contributed to the invalid ballots. Behind closed doors, however, murmurs of dissatisfaction within the bloc surfaced, with some leaders openly acknowledging that discipline had been breached.

A Clear Win for Radhakrishnan

For CP Radhakrishnan, the outcome marks a personal and political milestone. Known for his long-standing association with the BJP and his deep roots in Tamil Nadu, he will now serve as the country’s Vice-President, a role that also includes chairing the Rajya Sabha. His victory was widely expected, given the NDA’s majority, but the scale of support he received—well beyond the NDA’s formal numbers—has added weight to his mandate.

Radhakrishnan struck a conciliatory tone in his first remarks after the result, thanking all MPs who voted for him.

Political Significance

The election result has wider political implications. For the NDA, it reaffirms its dominance in Parliament and exposes vulnerabilities in the opposition camp. For the INDIA bloc, the episode is a wake-up call ahead of future political battles, including the general election. Maintaining discipline and cohesion will be critical if the alliance hopes to pose a serious challenge to the BJP-led government.

What should have been a straightforward contest for a largely ceremonial office has instead opened up a debate about trust, loyalty, and the fragility of alliances in Indian politics. While Radhakrishnan’s victory is assured and celebrated, it is the whispers of betrayal and cross-voting that have stolen the spotlight—reminding both camps that in politics, numbers often tell more than one story.