India elects ruling BJP's Radhakrishnan as new vice president

File Photo: CP Radhakrishnan. Facebook/CP Radhakrishnan

Indian lawmakers elected CP Radhakrishnan, a former parliamentarian from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, as the country's new vice president on Tuesday, more than a month after the previous incumbent quit abruptly.

Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose term as vice president was to expire in 2027, resigned in July citing health reasons.

Federal lawmakers voted in a secret ballot on Tuesday to elect the vice president, as mandated by the constitution.

Modi's ruling coalition nominated Radhakrishnan, 68, governor of the western state of Maharashtra, as its candidatefor the post.

Radhakrishnan was widely expected to win given the support the BJP and its allies enjoy in parliament. He polled 452 of the 752 valid preferential votes that were cast, said P.C. Mody, secretary-general of the upper house of parliament.

Opposition parties had nominated B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, as their candidate. Reddy received 300 votes.

The vice president holds the second-highest constitutional office as well as being chair of the upper house of parliament. The vice president also acts as president if there is a temporary vacancy.

The president and vice president are largely ceremonial posts as executive powers rest with the prime minister and cabinet.