Former Union minister Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu was elected India’s 13th Vice President on Saturday evening after defeating Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi by more than 270 votes amidst the highest turnover in a VP election. Read | Will steer Rajya Sabha without fear or favour, says India’s vice president-elect Venkaiah NaiduNaidu will be the 13th person to hold the second highest Constitutional post, which also makes him the Chiarman of the Upper House. “House of Elders (Rajya Sabha) is an important determinant of our democratic functioning to address appropriate checks and balances,” she added. Naidu’s victory to the country’s second-highest Constitutional office was predicted to be a cakewalk, but as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Naidu may face more intense challenge from the Opposition in the House. Read | Nellore to New Delhi, NDA’s vice president candidate Venkaiah Naidu’s journeyIn the 2007 VP poll, incumbent Hamid Ansari had polled 456 votes, Najma Heptullah 222 votes and Rashid Masood 075 votes.

Source: Hindustan Times August 05, 2017 14:17 UTC