VP election result: Congress to probe cross-voting; MPs from AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK under lens

Given the current strength of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Radhakrishnan was expected to get a minimum of 427 votes from the NDA MPs

The Congress party is likely to convene a meeting to identify instances of cross-voting or deliberate invalid votes in the Vice-Presidential polls held on Tuesday, according to sources cited by CNN-News18.

This comes as NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan was elected as the 15th Vice President of India, after receiving 452 first preference votes against Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy’s 300 first preference votes.

Given the current strength of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Radhakrishnan was expected to get a minimum of 427 votes from the NDA MPs. Add 11 votes from ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress Party – which had confirmed support for the NDA candidate – the tally should be 438.

Even if Independent and other neutral MPs voted in favour of Radhakrishnan, he should have secured 449 votes.

Meanwhile, Congress claimed that all 315 MPs turned up for the polls and voted for their candidate B Sudershan Reddy in a show of unity.

The CNN-News18 report further mentioned that about seven cross-votes may have come from Maharashtra -- including possibly three from Shiv Sena (UBT) and four from Congress. There could also be likely cross-voting from DMK, given Radhakrishnan’s Tamil Nadu roots. Moreover, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will also be under the lens.

With his election, Radhakrishnan becomes the third leader from Tamil Nadu to occupy the coveted post.

It may also be noted that Opposition MPs earlier held a mock poll to familiarise themselves with the voting process and reduce the risk of invalid ballots.

Though a detailed analysis will reveal the full picture, cracks in the INDIA bloc are already apparent. The alliance appears far from united in mounting a credible electoral challenge, unlike the NDA, which drew support from the YSRCP, while the BRS and BJD chose to abstain.

NDA nominee Radhakrishnan defeated INDIA bloc candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy by 152 votes in the Vice Presidential election held on Tuesday.

CP Radhakrishnan received 452 first preference votes whereas Justice Reddy received 300 first preference votes. Fifteen votes were considered invalid.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had abstained from voting in the VP polls, while Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) decided not to participate. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had announced that it will "boycott" the poll, given that people in Punjab are "upset and angry" over no help from the Centre and the state government.

The Vice President's post has been vacant since July 21, as Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his position on the first day of Parliament monsoon session, citing health reasons.