Will the INDIA bloc Reveal Its Vice Presidential Candidate Today? DMK's Support Confirmed by KC Venugopal

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The INDIA bloc will announce its Vice Presidential candidate today.
- K.C. Venugopal emphasizes a collective decision with alliance partners.
- The DMK supports the INDIA bloc's nominee.
- C.P. Radhakrishnan is the NDA's Vice Presidential candidate.
- The outcome may influence the Rajya Sabha's power dynamics.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 18 (NationPress) The INDIA bloc is set to announce its Vice Presidential candidate later today, as confirmed by Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal. He mentioned that discussions with alliance partners are currently in progress, and a joint decision will be finalized shortly.
“The Congress will not make a unilateral decision. We are consulting all our partners, and then our decision will be revealed. The DMK has already clarified its stance. By this evening, everything will be concluded,” Venugopal stated to the press.
This announcement follows the BJP-led NDA's declaration of Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as its Vice Presidential nominee, which is anticipated to bolster the BJP's presence in South India.
Radhakrishnan, hailing from Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, was born in 1957 and began his political career with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, subsequently joining the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in the 1970s.
He has served in various roles within the BJP, including as the president of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit from 2004 to 2007.
A two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore, elected in 1998 and 1999, Radhakrishnan is recognized for his dedication to industrial development, infrastructure, and education.
He is also regarded as a close associate of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, whom he visited earlier this month to check on his health.
Political analysts suggest that his nomination reflects the BJP’s ambition to broaden its influence in Tamil Nadu and the larger southern region.
Meanwhile, Venugopal, a Congress MP from Kerala and a trusted aide of the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, emphasized that the INDIA bloc aims to present a cohesive front.
The DMK, currently the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, has already extended its support to the alliance's nominee.
With the NDA solidifying its choice and the INDIA bloc expected to follow suit by evening, the stage is set for a pivotal Vice Presidential election, likely to affect the power dynamics in the Rajya Sabha and influence the BJP’s outreach strategy in the South.