The election of CP Radhakrishnan as the 15th Vice President of India has exposed potential fault lines within the INDIA bloc, raising questions about its unity and future strategy. Radhakrishnan, the NDA candidate and Maharashtra Governor, secured a comfortable victory with 452 votes, while the INDIA bloc's nominee, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy, received only 300.

The discrepancy between the expected and actual vote counts for Reddy has ignited speculation of cross-voting within the opposition ranks. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh initially claimed that all 315 INDIA bloc MPs had voted. However, the final results suggest that some MPs may have broken ranks and voted in favor of Radhakrishnan. If all 315 opposition MPs indeed turned up and voted, as claimed, and yet only 300 votes were received by the INDIA bloc candidate, 15 votes have clearly gone missing. This raises a crucial and unavoidable question.

This cross-voting, if confirmed, could have significant implications for the INDIA bloc. It raises concerns about trust deficits within the coalition and could complicate future negotiations, especially as the alliance gears up for upcoming Assembly elections and the crucial task of seat-sharing arrangements for the 2026 polls. The identity of the MPs who allegedly cross-voted may soon become a point of internal investigation.

Several leaders congratulated CP Radhakrishnan on his victory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that Radhakrishnan would strengthen the country's constitutional values and enhance parliamentary discourse. Union Home Minister Amit Shah wished him well in his role as the custodian of the Rajya Sabha's sanctity. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated Radhakrishnan and said that the Vice Presidential election was a battle of ideology.

The election saw a high voter turnout, with 767 out of 781 eligible Members of Parliament casting their votes. Out of the votes cast, 752 were deemed valid. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Shiromani Akali Dal decided to abstain from the election.

Despite the cross-voting concerns, some opposition leaders attempted to downplay the impact of Radhakrishnan's victory. Jairam Ramesh described the opposition's performance as "most respectable," highlighting that Reddy secured a larger percentage of the vote compared to the previous Vice Presidential election. He framed the BJP's win as a moral and political defeat, asserting that the ideological battle would continue. B Sudershan Reddy humbly accepted the results.

The election of CP Radhakrishnan marks a significant moment in Indian politics. As the former Governor of multiple states and a veteran BJP leader, he brings a wealth of experience to the Vice President's office. However, the shadow of cross-voting and the questions it raises about the INDIA bloc's cohesiveness will likely linger, potentially shaping the dynamics of Indian politics in the months and years to come.