Following the election of CP Radhakrishnan as the new Vice President of India, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju extended his gratitude to Members of Parliament (MPs) from the INDIA bloc, hinting at potential cross-voting in favor of the NDA candidate. Rijiju's statement, "Special thanks to some MPs of the India Alliance who voted with conscience for the NDA candidate in the vice presidential election," has sparked considerable discussion and analysis regarding the unity and internal dynamics of the opposition alliance.
The Vice Presidential election saw CP Radhakrishnan of the NDA secure 452 first preference votes, while Justice B Sudershan Reddy, the nominee from the INDIA bloc, received 300 votes. A total of 767 MPs cast their votes, with 15 votes declared invalid. The NDA's expected strength was around 438, but the candidate received 452 votes. This outcome has led to speculation and claims of cross-voting, with some analysts suggesting that approximately 10 MPs from the INDIA bloc may have broken ranks to vote for the NDA candidate. BJP General Secretary BL Santhosh claimed that the INDIA bloc candidate received 15 fewer votes than their total number.
Several leaders from the NDA have pointed to the election results as evidence of a lack of cohesion within the INDIA bloc. They argue that the cross-voting indicates that some opposition members are swayed by the policies and leadership of the current government. According to reports, NDA leaders said there was cross voting in favour of Radhakrishnan by opposition lawmakers from several states, including Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the NDA got an additional 25 votes, demonstrating that some opposition leaders chose to vote for Radhakrishnan.
The Congress party, while acknowledging the victory of the NDA candidate, has attempted to downplay the significance of the alleged cross-voting. Some leaders have pointed out that the opposition's vote share increased compared to the previous Vice Presidential election. Jairam Ramesh stated that the INDIA bloc candidate secured 40% of the vote, compared to 26% in 2022. However, this does not fully account for the discrepancy in the expected vote tally and the claims of cross-voting.
The circumstances surrounding the 15 invalid votes have also fueled debate. While some reports suggest that a significant portion of these invalid votes may have come from the NDA camp, others claim that they were deliberately marked incorrectly. Sanjay Jaiswal, the BJP's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, said that the NDA nominee won 452 votes because he received support from some Opposition MPs and appeared to be counting all 15 invalid votes as well as the additional votes.
The Vice Presidential election is conducted through a secret ballot, and parties cannot issue whips, which allows MPs to vote according to their conscience. This provision, intended to uphold the independence of the electoral process, also creates a window for cross-voting. Kiren Rijiju's acknowledgment of "conscience" votes highlights this aspect of the election and subtly underscores the perceived ideological alignment of some opposition members with the NDA's CP Radhakrishnan.
The cross-voting incident has raised questions about the stability and future prospects of the INDIA bloc. While the opposition alliance aims to present a united front against the NDA, the Vice Presidential election results suggest that internal divisions and differing viewpoints may exist. The incident could potentially impact the opposition's strategy and cohesion in the lead-up to future elections.
