M Venkaiah Naidu all-party man' now

New Delhi: Former Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday took oath as the 15th Vice-President of the country at a ceremony in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with political leaders cutting across party lines. 

Hours later, Mr Naidu chaired the Rajya Sabha proceedings on the last day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament and in his familiar style that while the Opposition “must have its say” but “at the end of the day, the democracy says that the government must have its way” because it has the mandate. He also said that he is now “an all-party man.” 

The Vice-President of the country is the ex-officio chairman of the Upper House of Parliament. 

While Mr Naidu is the 15th Vice-President, he is the 13th person to hold the constitutional post. His predecessor Hamid Ansari and the first vice -president S. Radhakrishnan had held the post for two consecutive terms.

Welcoming Mr Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is a tribute to the Indian democracy that people rise from humble and rural backgrounds to the highest constitutional positions. Mr Modi said Mr Naidu is the first Vice-President to be born in independent India and besides having long experience, is well-versed with the intricacies of parliamentary procedures and the functioning of the House. 

“All constitutional positions today are occupied by poor or sons of farmers or commoners,” Mr Modi as he recalled his association with Mr Venkaiah.