"Victories not ultimate agenda": Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala on Vice Presidential election results

New Delhi [India], September 10 (ANI): As NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan emerged victorious in the Vice Presidential election, Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala on Wednesday said that securing victories was not the ultimate agenda, but to save democracy and the constitution.
"We congratulate the newly elected Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. In the INDIA alliance, the opposition parties have shown their unity. Elections come and go. Victories are not the ultimate agenda. Agenda will be to save the democracy, constitution and make sure the people of this country have a voice to listen, a voice to vote," Chamala told ANI.
The Congress Lok Sabha MP said that despite knowing that the INDIA bloc didn't have numbers, they tried to have dialogue with all political parties earlier to get them to vote for the joint opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy.
"We know we didn't have numbers. We were fighting against the odds. But we did it because we are part of the democracy. We tried our level best to have a dialogue with all the political parties, and especially B Sudershan Reddy, who got enormous support. Maybe today, due to the ruling governance, some of the members would not have voted. But there was an overwhelming response when he travelled across the country," Chamala said.
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday responded to the alleged probability of cross-voting by the INDIA bloc MPs in the recently concluded Vice Presidential election, stating that it deserves a systematic investigation by each constituent of the opposition alliance.
"If there was cross-voting, then it should be seriously investigated by each of the constituents of the INDIA Alliance. Cross-voting is an extremely serious matter. If at all, what you are saying is correct or what is appearing in the public space or is being speculated has an iota of truth in it, it deserves a systematic and clinical investigation," Tewari told ANI.
His remarks come after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today took a "conscience" swipe at the opposition over the probability of cross-voting by the INDIA bloc MPs in the recently concluded Vice Presidential election, where NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan emerged victorious.
Rijiju said that NDA and "all our friendly MPs" remain united.
"Special thanks to some MPs of- INDI Alliance who voted with 'Conscience' for NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan in the VP election. NDA and All our friendly MPs remain united. Congratulations to everyone on electing a humble & efficient man and a true patriot as India's new Vice President," Rijiju posted on X.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary BL Santhosh claimed that the INDIA bloc candidate received 15 fewer votes than their total number.
"Voting happened through ballot papers & INDI Alliance got 15 votes less than their number. The INDI alliance leaders had campaigned for conscience vote. They got it in return," Santhosh posted on X.
Radhakrishnan was elected as the 15th Vice President on Tuesday.
Radhakrishnan defeated INDIA bloc nominee Justice B Sudershan Reddy by 152 votes in the Vice Presidential election.
CP Radhakrishnan received 452 first preference votes whereas Justice Reddy received 300 first preference votes. Fifteen votes were considered invalid.
"NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan got 452 first preference votes. He has been elected as the Vice President of India...Justice Sudershan Reddy secured 300 first preference votes," Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody said at a press conference.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had abstained from voting in the Vice Presidential election, while Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) decided not to participate. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had announced that it will "boycott" the poll, given that people in Punjab are "upset and angry" over no help from the Centre and the state government.
The Vice President's post has been vacant since July 21, 2025, as Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his position, citing health reasons. (ANI)