VP-elect Naidu takes a pledge to 'uphold the dignity of the Upper House'

After being declared the 15th Vice President of India, Naidu vowed to take decisions without any party affiliations. Immediately after he was elected to the chair, PM Modi Tweeted congratulating him for the victory. Modi also rested his confidence on Naidu, saying that he would prove to be the best for India.

Former Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was elected the 15th Vice-President of India and he had a special pledge to make. Getting the maximum support from his own party members and from others, he said that now he is bipartisan and has no party for himself. His election came just a day after BJP became the single-largest party in the Rajya Sabha, over which he would preside as the ex-officio chairperson. 

After his victory, Naidu said, "I am very humbled. I am also thankful to the Prime Minister and all party leaders for their support. I will seek to utilise the vice-presidential institution to strengthen the hands of the president and secondly uphold the dignity of the Upper House."

Naidu will be administered the oath of the Vice-President by Ram Nath Kovind at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 11. Naidu will be replacing Hamid Ansari who will be retiring on August 10. Meanwhile, within minutes of announcing the Vice-President elect, Narendra Modi tweeted wishing Naidu a fruitful and motivating tenure. He alse rested his confidence on Naidu, saying that he will serve the nation diligently with a committed goal of nation building. Later, according to a report by the New Indian Express, both Modi and Amit Shah visited Naidu's residence to congratulate him.

Naidu won 516 of the total 771 votes polled, while the opposition's candidate Gopal Krishna Gandhi won only 244 votes. 11 votes were declared invalid. Two BJP members, Vijay Goyel and Sanwarlal Jat could not cast their votes due to illness. MP Chedi Paswan, however, had been barred by the Supreme Court from voting. According to an inside source, it is believed that Naidu's tenure at the Rajya Sabha will help BJP get the backing of southern parties such as the AIADMK, TRS and YSR Congress during debates and a guaranteed passage of legislation in the Upper House.