Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at a gathering, in Mumbai. Radhakrishnan was on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, announced as the vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
| Photo Credit:
KUNAL PATIL
The ruling NDA on Sunday decided to field Maharashtra governor Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the Vice President’s election slated for September 9 following the resignation of incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health concerns.
BJP president JP Nadda announced this at a press conference after the BJP’s parliamentary party meeting, also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, got over on Sunday evening.
“At the parliamentary board meeting, we all unanimously decided on CP Radhakrishna as the VP candidate. We discussed the VP candidate with all our alliance party (NDA)earlier as well…” Nadda, also a Union Minister, told reporters.
“We want next vice president to be elected unanimously, and for that we have reached out to opposition leaders.”
Radhakrishnan, 67, is considered a statesman, and commands respect in all sections of society in Tamil Nadu, he stated as the decision is being seen as a major initiative to reach out to southern part of the country.
The BJP move comes ahead of assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
The Election Commission of India had earlier announced that the last date for filing nominations is August 21, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 25. The elections will take place on September 9.
Radhakrishnan took charge as Governor of Maharashtra in July, this year. Prior to that he was Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023. In between, he has held dual charges of Governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry.
He rose up the BJP ranks after spending his early years, from 16, at the RSS and Jan Sangh. Twice he represented Coimbatore in Lok Sabha, first time in 1998 and then a year later. Later, he became BJP Tamil Nadu party president for five years from 2004.
He has had global exposure too, having represented India on the international platforms. He addressed the 58th session of the UN General Assembly in 2004 and a decade later he was part of the India’s first parliamentary delegation to Taiwan, his profile illustrates.
He has also served at different administrative positions. To name a few, chairman of the All India Coir Board under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Published on August 17, 2025
