Vice-President polls: NDA announces candidate, picks Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata party on Sunday announced Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan as National Democratic Alliance's candidate for the upcoming Vice-President election, scheduled for September 9.Radhakrishnan' s name was finalised in BJP's Parliamentary Board meeting at the party headquarters."We want next Vice-President to be elected unanimously, we have reached out to opposition leaders," Nadda said as he announced Radhakrishnan's name."CP Radhakrishnan considered a statesman, commands respect in all sections of society in Tamil Nadu," he added.NDA had authorised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party BJP president JP Nadda to finalise the alliance candidate.Also read: Vice president elections: BJP announces CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate; INDIA bloc or NDA who has the numbers?'I am confident he will be an inspiring Vice-President'After the announcement, PM Modi heaped praise on Radhakrishnan saying he would be an “inspiring Vice-President.”"In his long years in public life, Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has distinguished himself with his dedication, humility and intellect. During the various positions he has held, he has always focused on community service and empowering the marginalised. He has done extensive work at the grassroots in Tamil Nadu. I am glad that the NDA family has decided to nominate him as the Vice Presidential candidate of our alliance," PM Modi wrote on X."Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has rich experience as MP and Governor of various states. His Parliamentary interventions were always incisive. During his gubernatorial tenures, he focused on addressing challenges faced by common citizens. These experiences ensured that he has vast knowledge of legislative and Constitutional matters. I am confident he will be an inspiring Vice President," he added.This comes after the abrupt resignation of former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21. Dhankhar quit during the ongoing Monsoon session of the Parliament, citing health reasons.However, the opposition claimed it was because of differences with the government.Also read: VP polls: NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan thanks PM Modi, says 'will work hard for nation till last breath'The NDA, with its majority in the electoral college comprising Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, is poised for an easy victory if the election is contested. The opposition INDIA bloc may field a candidate, with discussions slated for August 18.Meanwhile, all NDA chief ministers and deputy chief ministers have been summoned to Delhi on August 21 for the nomination filing.Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan is currently serving as the 24th governor of Maharashtra, a post he assumed on July 31, 2024. He previously served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024. He also held additional charge as the governor of Telangana and lieutenant governor of Puducherry between March and July 2024.A veteran BJP leader, Radhakrishnan, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore twice and previously served as the Tamil Nadu BJP State President.The Election Commission had earlier announced that polling will take place on September 9, with counting of votes scheduled for the same day. The last date for filing nominations is August 21, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 25.