BJP’s sweep in the country’s political set up is complete after Venkaiah was elected vice-president. Naidu was elected the 13th Vice-President of India and it was a landmark victory for the ruling party. He polled a massive 516 of the total 760 votes, aided by cross-voting by Opposition MPs in the 15th vice-presidential elections, which was obvious as the BJP wave that swept the country. Opposition candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi polled 244 votes. The elections saw the highest polling percentage at 98.12%, with 14 MPs failing to turn up to vote. While the result of the contest was a foregone conclusion, the margin of Naidu’s victory was the largest in recent elections. BJP made it clear that the people’s mandate in President’s as well Vice-President’s elections gives a massive victory to the ruling party and the candidates Congress led coalition relegated to the second spot. There is no second opinion that the new vice president will actively participate in Rajya Sabha proceedings as a chairman.
Chitra Rugminikrishnan
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
