06 August,2017 09:13 AM IST | New Delhi | Agencies
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee and former union minister M Venkaiah Naidu has been elected as the 13th Vice President of India with 516 votes
Venkaiah Naidu
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee and former union minister M Venkaiah Naidu has been elected as the 13th Vice President of India with 516 votes.
Opposition nominee Gopalkrishna Gandhi secured 244 votes. A total of 760 votes were valid and 11 invalid. Aâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088total of 771 from 785 MPs cast their votes on Saturday.
However, it was revealed that 14 MPs were not present during the voting process. Voting for vice-presidential election ended with a total poll percentage of 98.21 per cent.
The term of incumbent Vice-President Hamid Ansari, who held the position for two consecutive terms, will come to an end on August 10.
BJP workers celebrate the victory of NDA vice presidential candidate Venkaiah Naidu's election, in Bhopal. Pics/PTI
"I will seek to utilise the vice presidential institution to strengthen the hands of the president and uphold the dignity of the Upper House," Naidu said after his win.
Voices
Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Chief Minister
'Naidu's win marked the victory of the common people, whose struggle and aspirations he represented throughout his political life'
Sonia Gandhi, Congress President
'His position has the crucial challenge of assuming a non-partisan role in running the Rajya Sabha'
