The Vice Presidential election of September 9, 2025, was not merely a constitutional formality. It became the stage for a clash of two visions for India, one rooted in grassroots service, nationalism, democratic accountability, and the other shaped by old Congress-era ideological posturing, media spin and selective narratives.
In the end, the verdict was emphatic. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, CP Radhakrishnan, triumphed with 452 votes against Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy’s 300, securing a margin of 152 votes.
Numbers, however, tell only part of the story. What unfolded during the campaign was a carefully crafted narrative by the Congress and its allies, fronted by Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and DMK leaders, that attempted to reframe the election as a “battle between the Constitution and the RSS.”
A Life of Seva & Values
For the Bharatiya Janata Party, CP Radhakrishnan symbolises the steady rise of a swayamsevak who never wavered from his roots in service and nationalism. Born in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, on October 20, 1957, Radhakrishnan was named by his mother, Janaki Ammal, after the illustrious philosopher-President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. As Janaki Ammal herself said with emotion after his candidature was announced, “When my son was born, we prayed he would be like Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Today, that prayer has come true.”
Incorruptible Track Record
A two-time MP from Coimbatore, Radhakrishnan’s work has spanned Parliament, State leadership, and organisational service. His 19,000 km Rath Yatra across India campaigned for river-linking, eradication of terrorism, and a Uniform Civil Code. As Coir Board Chairman, he transformed the sector into a record exporter. As Governor of Jharkhand, Telangana, and Maharashtra, he earned respect for his clean administration.
Cong’s Man of the Constitution Portrayal Fails
The Opposition, however, painted an entirely different picture. Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy, projected as the “man of the Constitution,” was fielded as the INDI bloc candidate. Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and DMK leaders rallied behind him, framing his candidature as a matter of “Telugu pride” by Telangana Congress and constitutional morality.
For Rahul Gandhi, Reddy’s candidacy was a tool to pitch yet another ideological battle against the BJP.
Kharge sought to mobilise Congress MPs with speeches about “safeguarding democracy,” while DMK leaders declared that backing Reddy was about ensuring the diversity, unity, and social justice. This was further amplified by sections of the media eager to pit “Constitution versus RSS.”
Controversial Salwa Judum Verdict
But behind the lofty language lay uncomfortable truths. Reddy’s past judgements and associations exposed his tilt towards the Left, especially his infamous verdict dismantling Salwa Judum in 2011. For the tribals of Bastar, this judgement remains a source of anguish, remembered not as a constitutional triumph but as a betrayal that allowed Maoists to tighten their grip and claim countless lives. The Nandini Sundar v. State of Chhattisgarh judgement delivered by Justice Reddy outlawed Salwa Judum, ordered the withdrawal of firearms, and dismantled the youth tribal movement against Maoists. The timing was devastating: villages were left defenceless, Maoists burned schools and homes, and families of Judum members were mercilessly targeted. Mahendra Karma, Judum’s leader, was assassinated in 2013 in a brutal ambush. While academics in Delhi celebrated the judgement, tribals in Bastar felt abandoned.
Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly pointed out how this single verdict “set back India’s fight against Maoism by at least a decade.” Bastar’s voices echoed during the campaign, with many questioning how a man whose judgement deepened their wounds could now be elevated to such a constitutional office.
Cong’s Ideological Battle Disguised as Poll
With Rahul Gandhi and Kharge leading the charge, and DMK leaders draping the campaign by names in the interest of “Constitution,” the Opposition attempted to turn the Vice Presidential election into a symbolic war. Sudarshan Reddy’s visits to tainted figures like Lalu Prasad Yadav, his alignment with the AICC’s old guard, and his claim of being an “independent” candidate rang hollow.Congress’s orchestration had two clear aims: to brand Radhakrishnan as a representative of RSS ideology, implying a threat to constitutional values, and to rehabilitate its ecosystem of retired jurists, academics, and activists by presenting them as defenders of democracy.
In effect, this was less about the Vice President’s office and more about keeping alive an anti-BJP ideological theatre.
Numbers Speak Louder Than Narratives
Ultimately, numbers told the real story. Of 781 eligible MPs, 767 voted. Radhakrishnan received 452 votes, Reddy 300, and 15 were declared invalid. With a turnout of 98.2 per cent, the NDA candidate’s victory was decisive. Notably, JD(U) and TDP extended their support to Radhakrishnan, strengthening NDA unity. In contrast, the Congress camp struggled to hold its flock together, with abstentions from BJD and BRS underscoring the Opposition’s weakness.
Democracy Upheld, Agendas Defeated
The resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 2025, citing health concerns, created a vacancy in this high constitutional office and set the stage for the Vice Presidential elections.
This election reaffirms that India’s constitutional offices are not stages for ideological theatre but for service and responsibility. The attempt by Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and DMK leaders to cloak Sudarshan Reddy in the garb of constitutional morality failed to convince MPs who were deeply aware of his controversial legal legacy.
By electing CP Radhakrishnan, Parliament has sent a clear message: the Republic honours leaders who rise from the grassroots, demonstrate humility in service, and remain anchored to national values. In contrast, attempts to manipulate institutions for ideological gains will be rejected. At a time when India’s neighbours reel under constitutional breakdowns and political upheavals, India has once again demonstrated the smooth and dignified transfer of power at the highest levels.
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