Junagadh (Gujarat) [India], September 10 (ANI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday took a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that both of them don’t want to safeguard the Indian Constitution and don’t intend to save democracy.
Speaking to ANI, Kharge, who arrived in Gujarat’s Junagadh this noon, said that the opposition’s main aim was to save the constitution and democracy.
“It is common to fight (elections) in a democracy. Our main target is to save the constitution and safeguard democracy. The land where people like Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel were born and attained freedom for the country – these two are highly honourable for us. The country is united due to them. However, two other people do not want the constitution to remain safe. They don’t want to save democracy either,” Kharge said.
Speaking on Vice Presidential election, Kharge said, “We did not have the majority, we got (votes) as many as we had.”
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Manish Tewari stated that the alleged probability of cross-voting deserves a systematic investigation by each constituent of the opposition alliance.
“If there was cross-voting, then it should be seriously investigated by each of the constituents of the INDIA Alliance. Cross-voting is an extremely serious matter. If at all, what you are saying is correct or what is appearing in the public space or is being speculated has an iota of truth in it, it deserves a systematic and clinical investigation,” Tewari told ANI.
His remarks come after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today took a “conscience” swipe at the opposition over the probability of cross-voting by the INDIA bloc MPs in the recently concluded Vice Presidential election, where NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan emerged victorious.
Rijiju said that NDA and “all our friendly MPs” remain united.
“Special thanks to some MPs of- INDI Alliance who voted with ‘Conscience’ for NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan in the VP election. NDA and All our friendly MPs remain united. Congratulations to everyone on electing a humble & efficient man and a true patriot as India’s new Vice President,” Rijiju posted on X.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary BL Santhosh claimed that the INDIA bloc candidate received 15 fewer votes than their total number.
“Voting happened through ballot papers & INDI Alliance got 15 votes less than their number. The INDI alliance leaders had campaigned for conscience vote. They got it in return,” Santhosh posted on X.
Radhakrishnan was elected as the 15th Vice President on Tuesday.
Radhakrishnan defeated INDIA bloc nominee Justice B Sudershan Reddy by 152 votes in the Vice Presidential election.
CP Radhakrishnan received 452 first preference votes whereas Justice Reddy received 300 first preference votes. Fifteen votes were considered invalid.
“NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan got 452 first preference votes. He has been elected as the Vice President of India…Justice Sudershan Reddy secured 300 first preference votes,” Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody said at a press conference.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had abstained from voting in the Vice Presidential election, 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, 2025, as Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his position, citing health reasons. (ANI)
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