Naidu beats Mahatma grandson to become India’s 13th Vice-Prez
NDA candidate defeated Gopalkrishna Gandhi by 272 votes
Backed by two-third members of Parliament, senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday defeated the Opposition candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi. He will be sworn in as the country’s 13th Vice-President on August 11. Hamid Ansari’s term as V-P ends on August 10.
Mr Naidu bagged 516 votes, while Mr Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, secured 244. Nearly two-dozen MPs of Opposition parties, sources said, defied party whip and voted for the NDA’s vice-presidential candidate.
Mr Naidu bagged 21 more votes than the ones pledged to him (around 495). Of the total 785 MPs eligible to vote, 14 could not vote due to various, legitimate various reasons.
The BJP claimed that 20 MPs cross-voted in favour of Mr Naidu, and called it the “largest victory margin in last 33 years.”
Accepting defeat, the Opposition’s V-P candidate said, “Congratulate Venkaiah Naidu Garu on his victory. Wish him all the best for his new office. Thank those who voted for me; was expecting handsome performance by united vote of Opposition parties and I’m more than satisfied.”
Mr Gandhi also said that the votes he secured were an affirmation of “the right to free thought and speech and the duty to serve pluralism and secularism.”
Mr Naidu is the second BJP leader to become vice- president, after late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Congratulations to Venkaiah Naidu Garu on being elected VicePresident. My best wishes for a fruitful & motivating tenure
— Narendra Modi, PM
I wish Venkaiah Naidu all the best... and thank all the MPs who voted for me; they voted for free speech and pluralism
— Gopal Gandhi, Opp nominee
With Mr Naidu, “a farmer’ son,” winning the election, he is the third BJP leader, along with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to hold the three top constitutional positions in the country.
The Vice-President of the country is also the exofficio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
With Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also from the BJP, the saffron party now has an effective control both Houses. Mr Naidu’s candidature for the post of V-P is seen as part of the BJP’s strategy to send a positive message to the south where the party is trying to expand its base. Assembly elections are scheduled in Karnataka early next year. Mr Naidu was elected from the state for three
BJP claimed 20 MPs crossvoted in favour of Mr Naidu, and called it the “largest victory margin in last 33 years.” In the vice-presidential election, only MPs of the two Houses vote. I promise to uphold the Constitution and the high standards set by my esteemed predecessors. — Venkaiah Naidu
The NDA nominee for the post of vice-president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, who on Saturday won the elections for the second highest constitutional post of the country, expressed gratitude towards PM Narendra Modi and the MPs who voted for him, and promised to uphold the Constitution and the dignity of the Upper House of Parliament.
He was congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outgoing vice-president Hamid Ansari, former President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leaders of various political parties.
Mr Naidu was elected as India’s 13th vice-president, receiving an overwhelming two-third votes against opposition candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
Thanking the PM and all party leaders for their support, Mr Naidu said, “I will seek to utilise the vice-presidential institution to streng-then the hands of the President and uphold the dignity of the Upper House.”
The vice-president is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
“It’s an honour for me to become vice-president from a family of an ordinary farmer. This speaks for the beauty and strength of our democracy,” he added.
Mr Naidu got 516 votes out of total 771 votes cast, while Mr Gandhi could manage only 244 votes. Of the total 771 votes polled, 11 were found to be invalid.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while congratulating Mr Naidu on being elected as the Vice President, expressed confidence that he will serve the nation with dedication and diligence, committed to the goal of nation-building.
The Prime Minister’s message came immediately after Mr Naidu was declared winner in the vice-presidential polls.
“Congratulations to @MVenkaiahNaidu Garu on being elected India’s vice-president. My best wishes for a fruitful & motivating tenure,” Mr Modi tweeted.
“I am confident @MVenkaiahNaidu will serve the nation as a diligent & dedicated Vice President, committed to the goal of nation-building,” the PM added.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi extended best wishes to vice-presidentelect M. Venkaiah Naidu and extended her party’s support in further strengthening the Rajya Sabha for effective scrutiny of legislations and government policies.