What Did Jairam Ramesh Say to CP Radhakrishnan on His Election?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jairam Ramesh congratulated the new Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan.
- The election revealed dynamics in the opposition's unity.
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's principles were highlighted.
- The NDA candidate won decisively with 452 votes.
- Concerns about internal challenges within the opposition emerged.
New Delhi, Sep 10 (NationPress) Senior Congress figure Jairam Ramesh congratulated C.P. Radhakrishnan, the newly elected Vice President, on Wednesday, evoking the motivating words of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was India's first Vice President and the inaugural Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
In a message posted on the social media platform X, he expressed: "Best wishes to the newly elected Vice President, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, who will also fulfill his role as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Indian National Congress reflects on the inspiring vision of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India's first Vice President and the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha."
He further quoted from Dr. Radhakrishnan's inaugural remarks on May 16, 1952:
"I do not belong to any one party, and that means I belong to every party in this House. My endeavor will be to uphold the highest traditions of parliamentary democracy and to act with complete impartiality and equality towards every party—bearing no malice towards anyone and maintaining goodwill towards all... If a democracy does not allow opposition groups to critically, independently, and clearly critique the government’s policies, it may turn into a dictatorship..."
The Congress leader commended Radhakrishnan for embodying these values throughout his life, both in letter and spirit.
The recent Vice-Presidential election saw NDA candidate Radhakrishnan winning decisively, garnering 452 first preference votes as opposed to Justice (Retd.) B. Sudershan Reddy, the INDIA bloc's consensus candidate, who received merely 300 votes. Although the outcome was anticipated, it prompted discussions regarding the Opposition's unity and voting behaviors.
Earlier, the Congress MP praised the Opposition's performance, stating:
"The Vice-Presidential election voting has concluded. The Opposition stood united, with ALL of its 315 MPs participating. This marks an unprecedented 100% turnout."
He further noted: "Its joint candidate, Justice (Retd.) B. Sudershan Reddy, secured 40 percent of the votes. In 2022, the Opposition had obtained 26 percent. The BJP's numerical victory is, in reality, both a moral and political setback."
Nonetheless, the official count revealed a disparity that has led to speculation about fractures within the Opposition, challenging claims of total cohesion. The election results, declared by Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody, show a comfortable win for Radhakrishnan but also reveal internal challenges that lie ahead for the Opposition.