New Delhi

India’s ruling party candidate M. Venkaiah Naidu was elected vice-president in a parliamentary vote yesterday, enabling the party to boost its political standing in his southern home region where it lacks a broad support base.

Naidu, 68, from the state of Andhra Pradesh and a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defeated opposition nominee Gopalkrishna Gandhi, grandson of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, by a wide margin.

The position of vice-president, like that of president, is largely ceremonial under India’s constitution, in which the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues wield executive power.

However, the vice-president is also the speaker of the Rajya Sabha, or upper house of parliament, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition lacks a majority and has faced problems in passing legislation.

Naidu’s victory in the vote by both houses was a foregone conclusion because of the BJP’s commanding majority in the 545-member lower house, which more than makes up for its weakness in the upper house.

Recently elected President Ram Nath Kovind and M. Venkaiah Naidu were both associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or National Volunteer Corps, the ideological fountainhead of Hindu groups, early in their political careers.

Kovind, backed by the ruling Hindu nationalist right, easily won India’s presidential election last month, tightening its hold on positions of power.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday congratulated Venkaiah Naidu on being elected as the Vice-President .

Modi expressed confidence that the new vice-president would serve the nation with dedication and diligence, committed to the goal of nation-building.

The prime minister’s message came immediately after Naidu, the ruling National Democratic Alliance’s candidate, was declared winner, bagging 516 votes out of total 771 votes cast.

The opposition’s candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi could only manage 244 votes.

“Congratulations to @MVenkaiahNaidu Garu on being elected India’s Vice President. My best wishes for a fruitful & motivating tenure,” Modi tweeted.

Talking about their association, Modi said, “My mind is filled with memories of working with @MVenkaiahNaidu Garu, in the party & government. Will cherish this aspect of our association.”

— Agencies