JP Nadda Announces CP Radhakrishnan as NDA’s Vice Presidential Candidate

Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan Declared NDA’s Vice Presidential Candidate.

Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has been officially named as the ruling NDA’s candidate for the Vice Presidential election, nearly a month after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post. The announcement was made by BJP national president JP Nadda at a press conference following the party’s parliamentary board meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dhankhar had abruptly resigned on July 21, citing health reasons and medical advice, taking both the ruling party and the Opposition by surprise. His resignation triggered the need for a Vice Presidential election within 90 days.

NDA’s VP Candidate

Nadda stated that the NDA consulted all its allies before finalizing the candidate and will reach out to the Opposition to seek an “unopposed election” for the post. “We will talk to the opposition as well. We should also get their support so that together we can ensure an unopposed election for the post of Vice President. CP Radhakrishnan is our NDA’s candidate,” Nadda told ANI.

Sources said Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, and Kiren Rijiju would begin discussions with Opposition leaders from Monday to build consensus.

Who Is CP Radhakrishnan?

• Born in 1957, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu
• Current Maharashtra Governor since July 2024
• Former Governor of Jharkhand (2023)
• Has an RSS background
• Former Tamil Nadu BJP president (2004–2007), conducted a 93-day statewide yatra
• Elected to Lok Sabha twice from Coimbatore (1998 & 1999)
• In charge of BJP Kerala (2020–22) and member of BJP National Executive
• Among the first MPs to visit Taiwan in 2014
• Addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 2003
• Chaired Coir Board (2016–2020), boosting India’s coir exports
• Known for grassroots organisation and a clean image in Tamil Nadu BJP

NDA Allies Extend Support

• NDA allies have openly backed Radhakrishnan. Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi tweeted,
• “We fully support the NDA candidate for Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan. We stand with the NDA from the streets to the Parliament.”
• The Election Commission has set September 9 as the date for the Vice Presidential election, with August 21 being the last date for filing nominations.