PM Modi confident vice president-elect Venkaiah Naidu will serve with dedication

PM Modi expressed his confidence in Naidu’s ability, wishing him almost immediately after the election results were declared.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu on being elected as the 13th Vice President of India and expressed confidence that he will serve the nation with dedication and diligence, committed to the goal of nation-building.

Venkaiah Naidu and Narendra Modi at a party meeting in 2009. (Reuters File Photo)

The Prime Minister’s message came immediately after Naidu, the ruling National Democratic Alliance’s candidate, was declared winner in the vice presidential polls, bagging 516 votes out of total 771 votes cast.

The opposition’s candidate and Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi only managed 244 votes. (HIGHLIGHTS)

“Congratulations to M VenkaiahNaidu Garu on being elected India’s Vice President. My best wishes for a fruitful & motivating tenure,” the Prime Minister tweeted, adding, “I am confident M Venkaiah Naidu will serve the nation as a diligent & dedicated Vice President, committed to the goal of nation-building.”

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

A student of law in college, Naidu is the second BJP leader, after Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to occupy the post of the vice president. He became the BJP’s president in 2003 at an early age of 54.

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Naidu was associated with the RSS’s student wing in his early days, and served as the president of Andhra University Student’s Union. He was elected to the legislative assembly of Andhra Pradesh in 1978 and, again, in 1983.