New Delhi, August 16: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday announced Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election scheduled for September 9.
The election was necessitated after the incumbent, Jagdeep Dhankhar, announced a sudden resignation on July 21, citing health concerns.
The decision was taken by the BJP’s highest decision making body, the Parliamentary Board, that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday at the party headquarters.
After the meeting party national president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda told the media that the decision to nominate 68-year-old Radhakrishnan was taken after “extensive discussions with the NDA partners.”
Nadda also informed that senior leaders of the BJP had also reached out to the Opposition parties to support the NDA’s nominee.
“The opposition leaders conveyed to us that their decision to support the nominee will depend on the candidate. We are hopeful that Vice President will be elected by consensus,” Nadda said.
Radhakrishnan was earlier the Governor of Jharkhand (2023 to 2024) and had additional charge of Telangana. He had also served as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
Twice elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore and Radhakrishnan is also a former State president of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit.
Elections to pick the new VP will be held on September 9, and the last date for filing of nominations is August 21.
The BJP Parliamentary Board includes party president JP Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Sarbanand Sonowal, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yedyurappa, BL Santhosh, national general secretary (organisation), OBC cell chief K Laxman, Sudha Yadav, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, and Satyanarayan Jatiya.
