Ex-Coimbatore MP CP Radhakrishnan Declared NDA’s Vice-Presidential Candidate

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced CP Radhakrishnan, the governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the Vice Presidential elections scheduled for September 9.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Parliamentary Board, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Decision Finalized After Consultations

BJP president JP Nadda informed the media that the nomination of 68-year-old Radhakrishnan was decided after “extensive discussions with the NDA partners.”

He added that senior leaders of the BJP had also reached out to Opposition parties for support.

“The opposition leaders conveyed to us that their decision to support the nominee will depend on the candidate. We are hopeful that the VP will be elected by consensus,” Nadda said.

Political and Administrative Experience

Radhakrishnan currently serves as the governor of Maharashtra. He was earlier the governor of Jharkhand from 2023 to 2024 and also held additional charge of Telangana. In addition, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

He is a two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore and a former president of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit.

With over four decades of political life, his career began in 1974 as a member of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh’s state executive. He went on to hold various key responsibilities within the BJP.

Background of the Decision

The 11-member Parliamentary Board met at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi to finalize the candidate. The election to select the next Vice President will take place on September 9, with August 21 as the last date for filing nominations.

The vacancy was created after the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, citing health reasons. Dhankhar, who had assumed office in August 2022, stepped down just two years into his term.

The Parliamentary Board that made the decision included JP Nadda, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Sarbanand Sonowal, along with BS Yediyurappa, BL Santhosh, KLaxman, Sudha Yadav, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, and Satyanarayan Jatiya.

NDA Leaders Gave Mandate to Modi and Nadda

Earlier on August 7, NDA leaders had authorized Prime Minister Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda to select the candidate. The proposal was moved by JDU leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and seconded by TDP’s Ram Mohan Naidu at a meeting of NDA leaders held in Parliament.

Following the decision, Prime Minister Modi met CP Radhakrishnan in Delhi. Sharing a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Met Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji. Conveyed my best wishes on his being the NDA’s Vice Presidential nominee.

His long years of public service and experience across domains will greatly enrich our nation. May he continue to serve the nation with the same dedication and resolve he has always demonstrated.”

Political Significance of the Nomination

By fielding CP Radhakrishnan, the BJP is looking to make a broader political statement. His nomination appeals to caste and regional dynamics in Tamil Nadu, while also positioning the NDA strategically against the Opposition.

The move has placed the ruling DMK in a difficult position, forcing it to decide between supporting a candidate from its own state or staying aligned with the INDIA bloc.

With 32 MPs across both Houses, the DMK’s choice could play a key role. Reports suggest that the DMK has urged the INDIA bloc to field a Tamil Nadu candidate to contest against him.

Career Highlights

Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, CP Radhakrishnan entered politics early and went on to hold significant roles.

Twice elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999, he chaired the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Textiles and served on committees for Finance and Public Sector Undertakings.

In 2004, he represented India at the United Nations General Assembly and was part of India’s first parliamentary delegation to Taiwan.

As president of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit between 2004 and 2007, he led a 93-day, 19,000-km rath yatra that emphasized issues such as river-linking, ending untouchability, implementing a uniform civil code, counterterrorism, and fighting drug abuse.

As chairman of the Coir Board between 2016 and 2020, Radhakrishnan oversaw record export growth, with figures reaching Rs 2,532 crore.

He later served as the BJP’s all-India in-charge for Kerala before being appointed as governor of Jharkhand in 2023, followed by his current position in Maharashtra.

Election Ahead

The BJP’s nomination of CP Radhakrishnan highlights both his administrative experience and political reach.

With elections for Vice President scheduled for September 9, the focus will now shift to whether the NDA can secure consensus support or face a contest from the Opposition.