Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan Named NDA’s Vice-Presidential Candidate, Announces J.P. Nadda
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday announced Maharashtra Governor and senior BJP leader Chandrapuram Ponnuswamy (C.P.) Radhakrishnan as the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate for the post of Vice President. The decision was finalized at a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board. After the meeting, BJP National President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda made the formal announcement, stating that dialogue with the opposition was ongoing and efforts would be made to ensure that the election is unanimous and unopposed.
Nadda said, “As we have stated earlier, we are in touch with opposition parties. Our senior leaders have been engaging with them, and all our NDA allies have extended their support. Now, C.P. Radhakrishnan is our candidate.”
Political Career and Background
Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan has been closely associated with the BJP and the RSS family for decades. He served as the BJP’s Tamil Nadu state president from 2003 to 2006, during which he led a 93-day Rath Yatra focusing on river interlinking, raising awareness against terrorism, and campaigning for the eradication of untouchability.
Radhakrishnan was elected to the Lok Sabha twice, in 1998 and 1999, representing Coimbatore. In Parliament, he chaired the Standing Committee on Textiles and contributed significantly to committees on finance and public enterprises.
Constitutional Roles
Radhakrishnan also has wide experience in constitutional positions:
February 18, 2023 – July 30, 2024: Governor of Jharkhand.
Held additional charge as Governor of Telangana (March–July 2024) and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry (March–August 2024).
On July 31, 2024, he assumed office as the Governor of Maharashtra.
NDA’s Support
NDA allies have welcomed Radhakrishnan’s nomination. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi tweeted, “We fully support NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan. From the streets to Parliament, we stand firmly with the NDA.”
Radhakrishnan’s candidature underscores the BJP and NDA’s emphasis on organizational commitment and a spirit of service. The focus now shifts to the opposition—whether it will support his nomination and pave the way for an uncontested election.
