After a detailed discussion on the name of the Vice Presidential candidate from NDA, BJP’s national president JP Nadda on Sunday announced current Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan as the alliance’s candidate. The Vice Presidential elections have been necessitated after Jagdeep Dhankar’s sudden resignation from the post on July 21 citing health reasons.
The announcement comes just days ahead of the nomination deadline. Radhakrishnan’s candidature was cleared by the BJP’s 11-member Parliamentary Board, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nadda said that the decision will now be formally conveyed to NDA partners, including JD(U) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Soon after the announcement, PM Modi congratulated Radhakrishnan and posted on X, “Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has rich experience as MP and Governor of various states. His Parliamentary interventions were always incisive. During his gubernatorial tenures, he focused on addressing challenges faced by common citizens. These experiences ensured that he has vast knowledge of legislative and Constitutional matters. I am confident he will be an inspiring Vice President. Announcing the choice, Nadda also said, “CP Radhakrishnan, considered a statesman, commands respect across all sections of society in Tamil Nadu.”
Who is CP Radhakrishnan?
Radhakrishnan is a long-time Tamil Nadu BJP leader who has been associated with the RSS since the age of 16. He first entered Parliament in 1998 after winning the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat with the highest margin in the state at the time, IE reported. He retained the seat in 1999, before being appointed to the BJP’s National Executive. Radhakrishnan later served as the party’s Tamil Nadu president from 2004 to 2007.
During his tenure as state chief, Radhakrishnan undertook a 93-day, 19,000 km Ratha Yatra to press for issues including interlinking of rivers, counter-terrorism measures, a uniform civil code, eradication of untouchability and steps against narcotic drugs. He also led two Padayatras on separate causes.
In 2016, he was appointed Chairman of the Coir Board, where he oversaw record exports worth Rs 2,532 crore. Later, as BJP’s in-charge for Kerala (2020–22), he navigated one of the party’s toughest political terrains. His administrative journey extended further when he was appointed Governor of Jharkhand in February 2023. Remarkably, within just four months of taking charge, he had toured all 24 districts of the state to directly engage with citizens and officials.
‘Governors should act as custodians’
Radhakrishnan’s tenure in Raj Bhavan, like many of his contemporaries appointed by the Modi government, has been politically eventful. He has maintained that governors should act as “custodians” rather than political players. “If a Governor is taken for granted and disrespected by the state government, it is not right… But if a Governor fails to act in an unbiased manner, then people can raise their voice,” he told The Indian Express in 2023.
Beyond his political life, Radhakrishnan has been an avid sportsperson, According to Raj Bhavan Maharashtra, he is table tennis champion, long-distance runner and enthusiastic cricket and volleyball player.