The BJP’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday declared Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election scheduled to take place soon. The choice was made at the BJP parliamentary board meeting in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other top brass.
The nomination was decided after “extensive deliberation” among the party’s top decision-making body, BJP national president JP Nadda announced after the meeting.
Election Timeline and Context
The Vice Presidential election has been scheduled for September 9, 2025, by the Election Commission of India. The deadline for nominations is August 21 with scrutiny on August 22. The election has been warranted due to the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned from the office last month.
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With the NDA having the majority in Parliament, Radhakrishnan is likely to emerge victorious in a comfortable margin, although the opposition will most likely field its own choice in the days to come.
Political Journey of CP Radhakrishnan
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, born on October 20, 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, has been a long-serving and acclaimed politician. He took oath as the Governor of Maharashtra on July 31, 2024, following his stint as the Governor of Jharkhand for close to one and a half years.
Radhakrishnan has strong roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and joined active politics early on. In 1974, he was a member of the Bharatiya Janasangh State Executive Committee, the ideological forerunner of the BJP. Subsequently, he was the BJP’s Tamil Nadu state president from 2004 to 2007, responsible for consolidating the party’s foothold in the southern state.
Beyond Politics: A Multifaceted Personality
Besides his political efforts, Radhakrishnan has also gained recognition for his sporting pursuits. He was a college table tennis champion and a long-distance athlete, as indicated by the Maharashtra Raj Bhavan website. He is also fond of cricket and volleyball, which shows a versatile personality other than politics.
Radhakrishnan’s candidature is being interpreted as a strategic decision by the NDA, emphasizing the coalition’s attempts to bring forward leaders with administrative as well as grass-root level experience. Having been associated with the BJP and the RSS for long and having served as the Governor, Radhakrishnan is an experienced candidate for the constitutional position of Vice President, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
