The Vice President elect M Venakiah Naidu will take oath of the office on Friday. He will replace Mohammad Hamid Ansari, whose second term ends on Thursday. Mr. Naidu, former Union Minister was elected as the 13th Vice President yesterday, after he defeated the Opposition nominee Gopalkrishna Gandhi. He received 516 votes against Gopalkrishna's 244 votes. 771 votes out of 785 were cast in the elections.<br/>After winning the election, Venkaiah Naidu said, he promises to uphold the Constitution and the high standards set by his esteemed predecessors.<br/><br/>In a series of tweets, he expressed his gratitude to every MP who supported his candidature cutting across party lines. Mr. Naidu also said, he will try to take everyone along with him and will work to maintain the convention and dignity of the Rajya Sabha as Chairman of the Upper House.<br/><br/>After his victory, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari congratulated the Vice President-elect. In a telephonic conversation, Mr. Ansari wished Mr. Naidu the very best for his future role as the Vice President and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha.<br/><br/>Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated him. Extending his best wishes for a fruitful and motivating tenure, the Prime Minister said, he is confident that Mr. Naidu will serve the nation as a diligent and dedicated Vice President, committed to the the goal of nation building.<br/><br/>Mr. Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, several Union Ministers and leaders visited Mr. Naidu's residence to give him their wishes.<br/><br/>Congress President Sonia Gandhi also extended her best wishes to the Vice President-elect. She offered Congress party's support in further strengthening the Upper House for effective scrutiny of legislations and government policies.<br/><br/>M. Venakiah Naidu has served as the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Information and Broadcasting in the present government. During his three decades in public life, Mr Naidu has held several positions, including President of BJP.<br/><br/>Meanwhile in Telangana, celebrations broke out across the state last evening on former Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu getting elected to the office of the Vice President. Leaders from across party lines congratulated him on the occasion.<br/>Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao congratulated Mr. Naidu in a special message. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya also congratulated him on his election to the post of vice-president. The BJP leaders and activists in Telangana celebrated Mr Naidu's election to the vice president post at the party office in Hyderabad by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.