"5 MVA votes for Radhakrishnan; some from INDI alliance want to join us": Union Minister Athawale
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said five Maha Vikas Aghadi votes went to NDA's Vice Presidential candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan, showing a lack of unity in the INDIA bloc. He called the result a big victory and congratulated Radhakrishnan.
ANI
Sep 10, 2025 20:46 IST
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 10 (ANI): Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said that the Vice Presidential election result showed cracks within the Opposition's alliance, claiming that five votes from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had gone to NDA's candidate C P Radhakrishnan.
Speaking to ANI, Athawale said, "Five votes from Maha Vikas Aghadi have also gone to C.P. Radhakrishnan. There is no consensus in the INDIA (alliance)."
Congratulating the VP elect, he also claimed that some of the INDI Alliance partners "want to join" NDA.
Athawale said, "Some people from the INDIA alliance want to join us. This is a big victory for us. I heartily congratulate C.P. Radhakrishnan and extend my best wishes."
The result has been hailed by NDA leaders as a mandate for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, while Opposition parties described their campaign as a fight to protect Constitutional values.
A day earlier, Radhakrishnan, the NDA nominee, was elected as the 15th Vice President of India after securing 452 first preference votes. INDIA bloc candidate Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy received 300 votes, while 15 votes were declared invalid.
A total voter turnout of 98.20 per cent was recorded, with 767 MPs out of 781 casting their votes.
Following the announcement of results, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated CP Radhakrishnan and expressed confidence that the newly elected Vice President would strengthen India's Constitutional values and contribute positively to parliamentary discourse.
"Congratulations to Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji on winning the 2025 Vice Presidential election. His life has always been devoted to serving society and empowering the poor and marginalised. I am confident that he will be an outstanding VP, who will strengthen our Constitutional values and enhance Parliamentary discourse, Prime Minister Modi wrote on X.
Furthermore, 13 MPs abstained from voting in the election. These include seven MPs from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), four from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), one MP from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and one Independent MP.
The Vice President's post has been vacant since July 21, 2025, as Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his position, citing health reasons. (ANI)
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