17th Vice-President of India: C.P. Radhakrishnan

C.P. Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Maharashtra, has been chosen as the 17th Vice President of India.

• He secured 452 first preferential votes, defeating the Opposition’s joint candidate Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, who got 300 votes.
• The margin of victory was 152 votes.
• About 98.2% of the electoral college, including members from both Houses of Parliament, took part.
• A total of 14 members refrained from casting their vote, while 15 ballots were deemed invalid.

Key Points from the Election:

Total Electoral College Strength: 788 (Rajya Sabha 245 + Lok Sabha 543).

Present Strength on Voting Day: 781 (Rajya Sabha 239 + Lok Sabha 542).

Votes Polled: 767 valid votes.

Result:

• C.P. Radhakrishnan (NDA) – 452 votes.
• B. Sudershan Reddy (Opposition) – 300 votes.

Cross Voting: NDA managed to gain at least 13 extra votes from the Opposition camp.

PM Narendra Modi’s Congratulatory Message: He praised Radhakrishnan’s lifelong work for society and empowerment of the marginalized.

Procedure of Election of the Vice-President:

The process for electing India’s Vice-President is detailed in Article 66 of the Constitution.

Electoral College:

• Members from both Houses of Parliament, namely the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
• Nominated members of both Houses also participate, unlike in the Presidential election.

Voting System:

• Single transferable vote system.
• Voting is done by secret ballot.
• MPs rank candidates in order of preference.

Returning Officer:

• The Returning Officer’s role in the Rajya Sabha is performed by the Secretary-General.

Eligibility Criteria (Article 66(3)):

• Must be an Indian citizen.
• Minimum age: 35 years.
• Should possess the eligibility required for election to the Rajya Sabha.
• They are not permitted to occupy any office of profit under either the Central or State Government.

 About Vice-President of India :

In India, the Vice-President holds the second-highest position in the constitutional hierarchy, after the President.The provisions related to this office are enshrined in Articles 63 to 71 of the Indian Constitution.

Article 63 – Office of Vice-President:

“There shall be a Vice-President of India.”

• The Constitution requires establishing the position of Vice-President.
• It is a permanent constitutional position, similar to the office of the President.

Article 64 – The Vice-President serves as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

The Vice-President serves as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and is prohibited from holding any other office that yields profit.

• The Vice-President mainly serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, functioning in a role comparable to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• Not allowed to occupy any position that generates personal profit, ensuring independence and impartiality.

Article 65 – Vice-President to Act as President:

• In the event of:

• In the event of the President’s death, resignation, removal, or inability to perform duties, the Vice-President assumes the role of President of India until a new President is elected or the incumbent returns to office.

• The Vice-President does not automatically become President, unlike the U.S. model.
• Can serve as President for up to six months, during which a new election must take place.

Article 66 – Election of Vice-President:

The procedure of election is laid down under this Article.

Key provisions:

Electoral College:

• Representatives from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
• Nominated members also participate, unlike in the Presidential election.

Voting System:

• Representation based on proportionality using a single transferable vote system.
• A secret ballot is used.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a citizen of India.
• Minimum age: 35 years.
• Must fulfill the eligibility requirements to serve as a Rajya Sabha member.
• Cannot hold any office of profit under:

• Government of India,
• State Government, or
• Any local authority controlled by the Government.

Article 67 – Term of Office:

• Duration: Five years starting from the assumption of office.
• Resignation: Can resign by writing to the President.
• Removal:

• It can be repealed through a Rajya Sabha resolution approved by a majority of its members and subsequently accepted by the Lok Sabha.
• A notice period of 14 days is required prior to passing such a resolution.

Article 68 – Time of Holding Elections:

• Elections to fill a vacancy must be completed before the expiry of the term.
• If a position becomes vacant due to death, resignation, or removal, a new election should be conducted at the earliest opportunity.

Article 69 – Oath or Affirmation:

• The Vice-President must take an oath or make a formal affirmation prior to taking office.
• Oath is administered by the President of India.

Article 70 – Performing the President’s Duties in Other Situations

• Parliament may make laws to determine who will discharge the functions of the President, if both the offices of President and Vice-President fall vacant simultaneously.

Article 71 – Issues Related to Elections or Their Proceedings

• The Supreme Court has the final authority to adjudicate disputes related to:

• The election of the Vice-President, or
• Any matter connected with such elections.

History of the Vice-President of India:

The post was created in 1952, similar to the U.S. model but with a few differences.

Vice-President	Term	Notable Facts
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan	1952–1962	1st VP, later President
Dr. Zakir Husain	1962–1967	Became President later
V.V. Giri	1967–1969	Resigned to contest Presidential elections
B.D. Jatti	1974–1979	Acting President for a period
Hamid Ansari	2007–2017	Served two consecutive terms
M. Venkaiah Naidu	2017–2022	Former Union Minister
Jagdeep Dhankhar	2022–2025	Immediate predecessor
C.P. Radhakrishnan	2025–present	17th Vice-President