Did BJP Congratulate C.P. Radhakrishnan on His VP Nomination?

New Delhi, Aug 18 (NationPress) The BJP expressed its congratulations to Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan after his nomination as the NDA’s vice presidential candidate, extending gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for selecting a leader from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. The election for the Vice President of India is slated for September 9.

Radhakrishnan, who previously served as the president of the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit and has deep ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was nominated by the ruling alliance. His selection received accolades from numerous BJP leaders, who commended his dedication to public service and adherence to the party's principles.

Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Uma Bharti, praised the choice, stating, “Regardless of who represents the INDIA Bloc, the NDA’s candidate is truly notable. I have personal respect for him. He is wise and compassionate. I appreciate our party for selecting such an excellent candidate for the vice presidency.”

BJP leader Niranjan Jyoti shared with IANS, “With the backing of NDA leaders, Prime Minister Modi has astonished many. Coming from an RSS background, Radhakrishnan is a social worker and has held various constitutional roles. I congratulate him and thank PM Modi for choosing a candidate from the OBC category. Best wishes for his future endeavors.”

Radhakrishnan has previously held the position of Governor of Jharkhand and also managed Puducherry. He is a two-term MP representing Coimbatore and has led the Tamil Nadu BJP while maintaining a close association with the RSS since the age of 17.

With a collective strength of 786 members in both Houses of Parliament, the majority mark for the Vice Presidential election stands at 394. The NDA currently holds 422 seats — 293 in the Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha — indicating a strong position for Radhakrishnan.

Radhakrishnan's connection with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is well-known, and he is reputed to have a solid working rapport with Prime Minister Modi. Outside of politics, he pioneered the export of knitted cotton to Bangladesh, and his consensus-oriented leadership approach is recognized across party lines.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also supported the BJP's nominee on Monday. He took to social media to express, "The decision to nominate Maharashtra Governor Radhakrishnan as the NDA candidate for the Vice Presidency is commendable. The JD(U) will back Radhakrishnan. Best of luck to him."

The JD(U) has 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha and four in the Rajya Sabha, further enhancing Radhakrishnan’s prospects.

In the meantime, leaders from the INDIA Bloc responded cautiously but acknowledged Radhakrishnan's qualifications.Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi told IANS, “He is the Governor of Maharashtra and a figure without controversy. He has held the Governor position in Jharkhand and served as a Member of Parliament. We hope that if elected, he will honor the dignity of the office and uphold parliamentary traditions.”

She mentioned that the INDIA Bloc would decide whether to present a candidate or support Radhakrishnan after discussions among alliance members.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal confirmed that discussions are ongoing, and the Opposition coalition will announce its candidate later today.

“The Congress will not act unilaterally. We are consulting all our alliance partners. The DMK has already made its position clear. By Monday evening, everything will be finalized,” Venugopal stated to reporters.