Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan Is BJP's Vice President Candidate

The NDA candidate for the post of Vice President is CP Radhakrishnan -- the Governor of Maharashtra and one of the party's tallest leaders from Tamil Nadu - the BJP announced today, weeks after the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. He is expected to face-off with the Opposition candidate on September 9, but given the NDA numbers, appears to be standing on the threshold of victory. 

"Mr Radhakrishnan has a 40-year experience in politics and wore many hats," said BJP chief JP Nadda, making the announcement this evening after a meeting with NDA parliamentary party meeting.

"We hope the Vice President's election will take place through consensus. We have spoken to many parties, and while the opposition said they would decide after our announcement, we are hopeful of wider support," he told reporters.The BJP, he added, will speak to the Opposition leaders to ensure a "smooth election". 

Mr Radhakrishnan has also been the Governor of Jharkhand, held additional charge of Pondicherry, has been a two-term MP from Coimbatore and headed the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP. 

With the combined strength of both houses standing at 786, the majority mark is 394. The NDA's combined strength in the two houses is 422 -- 293 members in the Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha.  

PM Modi said: 
  
In a post on X, PM Modi said Mr Radhakrishnan has done extensive work at the grassroots level in Tamil Nadu and he was glad that the NDA family has decided to nominate him as the Vice Presidential candidate of the alliance.

"In his long years in public life, Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has distinguished himself with his dedication, humility and intellect," Modi said in a post on X.

"During the various positions he has held, he has always focused on community service and empowering the marginalised," the prime minister said Earlier, the BJP parliamentary board nominated Radhakrishnan as the NDA candidate for vice-president.

BJP's Political Messaging

The new candidate's background has sent off multiple signals - beginning with his Tamil heritage. 

His choice - coming ahead of the next year's election in Tamil Nadu - is expected to send a signal to the people of the state where the BJP is yet to make a build a niche for itself. It is also expected to be a googly for the Dravidian parties - the ruling DMK and the Opposition AIADMK - which has so far kept a firm grip on the state.

Mr Radhakrishnan also is a poles apart from Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had to step down under BJP pressure after multiple controversies. 

Mr Dhankhar, the outspoken former Governor of Bengal made headlines with his rows with the ruling Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. As Vice  President, his comments about the judiciary and strong hand with the Opposition made headlines. 

Mr Radhakrishnan, from the age of 17, has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - the ideological mentor of the BJP and the Jan Sangh, the party's precursor.

He was close to former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee and is said to be familiar with the working style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His exposure to the world outside of politics - he was India's first exporter of knitted cotton to Bangladesh --  - and method of working  through consensus and statesmanship is known across party lines.  

While DMK sources told NDTV that the party would not support the NDA candidate, the party spokesperson said, "Happy That someone from Tamil Nadu has been named. The representation of South in the central government is lacking.  Would expect him to be more fair in Rajya Sabha if he gets elected," he said.