New Delhi, 6th Aug: NDA nominee and former Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu elected as the 13th Vice President of India after comfortably defeating Opposition candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi in the Vice-Presidential election on Saturday. While Naidu secured 516 votes in his favour, Gandhi managed to get only 244 votes. Reflecting on his thumping win, Naidu said, “I am very humbled. I am also thankful to the Prime Minister and all party leaders for their support.”
Over 98 percent voting was recorded in the vice-presidential election. 771 out of 785 MPs have voted in the election, however 11 votes were found to be invalid, said Assistant returning officer Mukul Pandey. “Coming from an agricultural background, I never imagined I would be here. Agriculture has no proper voice in Indian polity,” India’s vice president-elect said after being elected. “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,” Venkaiah added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Venkaiah : Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the newly elected Vice President of India Mr Naidu and tweeted, “ My best wishes for a fruitful & motivating tenure. I am confident Mr Naidu will serve nation as a diligent & dedicated Vice President, committed to the the goal of nation building.”
After elected to the 13th Vice President position, Venkaiah Naidu  thanked party leaders for their support. “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,” he added.