The BJP on Sunday announced Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as NDA vice presidential candidate. This comes less than a month after nearly a month after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post.
BJP national president JP Nadda announced Radhakrishnan's nomination during a press conference on Sunday evening after the party’s parliamentary board held a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier in the day, Radhakrishnan visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to seek blessings.
Who is C.P. Radhakrishnan?
C.P. Radhakrishnan alias Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan who was Tamil Nadu state BJP president from 2003 to 2006 was appointed the Governor of Maharashtra on July 31, 2024. He had previously served as Jharkhand Governor from February 18, 2023, to July 30, 2024.
PM Modi presided over the Parliamentary Committee meeting, where, after extensive deliberations, it was decided to nominate Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Maharashtra, as the NDA's candidate for the position of Vice President. Shri Radhakrishnan was born on October 20,… pic.twitter.com/oljPCXseFv
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 17, 2025
His additional charges in the past included posts of Telangana governor during March-July 2024 and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor during March-August 2024.
Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, he began his political journey with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He won from Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat in 1998.
Thanking PM Modi, Radhakrishnan said, "My heartfelt thanks to our beloved People’s leader our most respected Honourable Prime Minister Shri. @narendramodi Ji for nominating me as the NDA Vice Presidential candidate and giving me the opportunity to serve the Nation."
Nadda said the government discussed Radhakrishnan's candidacy with all parties in the NDA before reaching the decision. He said the Centre will contact the Opposition too, in a bid to seek an "unopposed election". "CP Radhakrishnan considered a statesman, commands respect in all sections of society in Tamil Nadu," he added.
Even if the opposition fields a candidate, the NDA candidate can easily win the election, given its majority in the electoral college.
It should be noted that Radhakrishnan called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at his Chittaranjan Road residence in Chennai on August 11. THE WEEK had cited sources in the Tamil Nadu BJP saying that Radhakrishnan’s visit was to seek the DMK’s support in Parliament during the vice presidential election. Read the full story HERE.
