India’s former Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, presented his sudden resignation in July. Amid rumours of his absence since the statement, leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners authorised PM Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda to choose their Vice Presidential candidate.
After much deliberation, CP Radhakrishnan, the current governor of Maharashtra, was nominated for the post. With polls scheduled for September 9 and a nomination deadline of August 22, the 68-year-old Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member was formally announced as the NDA’s contender.
CP Radhakrishnan – 7 unknown facts
- From his young years, Radhakrishnan has been a member of the RSS and the BJP. Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998 from Coimbatore, he also returned in the 1999 general elections.
- He was also the former state president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu and served as the governor of Jharkhand (2023-24) and Telangana.
- During his role as the Tamil Nadu BJP chief, between 2004 and 2007, he travelled 19,000 km for a 93-day Rath Yatra. The purpose of this Yatra was to highlight his demands, which included linking all Indian rivers, reducing terrorism, implementing a uniform civil code, removing untouchability, and combating the menace of narcotic drugs.
- He also led two more Padayatras for different causes.
- Having given over four decades to politics, he holds great respect in Tamil Nadu and was given additional responsibility as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
- As per NDTV reports, Radhakrishnan has also been an avid sportsperson with accolades in table tennis and running. He also enjoys cricket and volleyball.
- He is married to R Sumathi and has two children.
NDA’s decision to Radhakrishnan
After Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation, citing health reasons left the seat vacant on the first day of the monsoon session, the Election Commission announced the date of polling shortly afterwards.
An eleven-member board, as per an HT report, was the key decision maker for shortlisting names of the NDA candidates. The Parliamentary Board includes party president JP Nadda, union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Sarbanand Sonowal, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yedyurappa, BL Santhosh, national general secretary (organisation), OBC cell chief K Laxman, Sudha Yadav, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, and Satyanarayan Jatiya.
In a statement announcing Radhakrishnan’s candidature, Nadda told the media that “extensive discussions with the NDA partners,” led to his nomination. He disclosed that senior members of the BJP had reached out to the Opposition parties to support their nominee. “We are hopeful that the VP will be elected by consensus,” Nadda said.