Elections are no longer a zero-sum game. The NDA is celebrating the victory of CP Radhakrishnan as India’s new Vice-President, while the Congress is highlighting the “arithmetical victory” of the Opposition. The CP Radhakrishnan Vice-President election result gave him 452 valid votes, while Opposition candidate, former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, secured 300 votes.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the INDIA bloc’s share rose to 40 per cent from 26 per cent in 2022, calling it a moral win despite political defeat. Ramesh also noted that all 315 Opposition MPs voted, suggesting some support shifted to the NDA side.
As the new ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Radhakrishnan’s role is crucial. His predecessor Jagdeep Dhankhar faced criticism for being partisan and confrontational with the Opposition. Many analysts believe Radhakrishnan must restore faith in an office that demands neutrality.
Radhakrishnan’s challenge is both political and moral. He must prevent the Rajya Sabha from becoming a battleground and instead turn it into a chamber for calm debate and meaningful dialogue. With India’s politics more polarised than ever, his conduct and rulings will decide whether the House regains credibility.
