"Victory a responsibility to protect constitutional values": Sukhdeo Bhagat congratulates VP-elect Radhakrishnan

New Delhi [India], September 10 (ANI): Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Tuesday congratulated NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan on being elected as the Vice President of India, while stressing that the Opposition does not consider the result as its defeat.
Speaking to ANI, Bhagat said the newly elected Vice President has an important constitutional responsibility.
"I congratulate C.P. Radhakrishnan, and this victory is a responsibility. It is the responsibility to protect the constitutional values," he said.
The Congress leader also expressed hope that former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned last month, would be present during the swearing-in ceremony.
"We hope that when he takes the oath, the former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar will be present there," Bhagat added.
He further underlined that the Opposition's campaign in the Vice Presidential election focused on safeguarding democracy.
"This is not our defeat. Our campaign is to save the Constitution, to preserve the constitutional values intact, and to maintain them is our responsibility, which Rahul Gandhi is fulfilling," the MP said.
CP Radhakrishnan was elected as the 15th Vice President of India on Tuesday, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned from the post citing health concerns.
Radhakrishnan defeated opposition nominee Justice B Sudershan Reddy by 152 votes in the Vice Presidential elections.
The election recorded 98.20 per cent polling, with 767 MPs casting their votes out of 781 eligible.
Radhakrishnan received 452 first preference votes whereas the INDIA bloc candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy received 300 first preference votes. Fifteen votes were invalid.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury congratulated NDA nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan on being elected Vice President of India while taking a swipe at his predecessor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned last month.
Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury said, "I wish the new Vice President all the very best and heartily congratulate him. I hope that he will complete his full tenure, unlike the last vice president who vanished."
The Vice President's seat has been vacant since July 21, 2025, as Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his position, citing health reasons. (ANI)