CP Radhakrishnan named NDA’s Vice President candidate ahead of Sept 9 polls

BJP national president JP Nadda announced CP Radhakrishnan, a seasoned leader from Tamil Nadu and current Maharashtra Governor, as the NDA’s nominee for Vice President.

The NDA has officially declared Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election scheduled on September 9. BJP national president JP Nadda made the announcement on Monday, putting an end to weeks of speculation.

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Who is CP Radhakrishnan?

Radhakrishnan, whose full name is Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, is a senior BJP leader with deep roots in Tamil Nadu politics. Born in Tiruppur on October 20, 1957, he stepped into public life at just 16 through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jan Sangh. Over the decades, he rose steadily within the BJP, becoming Tamil Nadu BJP secretary in 1996, and winning the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat in 1998 and 1999.

Between 2003 and 2006, he served as the state BJP president and also represented India at the United Nations General Assembly in 2004, where he addressed global leaders.

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Before taking charge as Maharashtra’s Governor, Radhakrishnan was the Governor of Jharkhand (Feb 2023-July 2024). During this tenure, he also held additional responsibilities for Telangana and Puducherry. His administrative experience, coupled with parliamentary exposure, makes him a strong contender for the second-highest constitutional office in the country.

The Vice Presidential post fell vacant following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation. The last date for filing nominations is August 21, and if the opposition fields a candidate, the contest will be held on September 9. Given NDA’s numerical strength in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, political observers say Radhakrishnan’s victory is almost assured.

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