The announcement by BJP president JP Nadda, follows the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who abruptly stepped down as Vice President of India and Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha on July 21, citing health reasons.
Published Aug 17, 2025 | 8:30 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2025 | 10:26 PM
CP Radhakrishnan.
Synopsis: The Bharatiya Janata Party has named Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the National Democratic Alliance’s candidate for the vice-president election on 9 September. Radhakrishnan, a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu and former Lok Sabha member, was finalised at the party’s Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi on 17 August.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate for the upcoming vice-president election, scheduled for September 9.
Radhakrishnan, a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, was finalised as the candidate at the BJP’s Parliamentary Board meeting held at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday, 17 August.
The announcement by BJP president JP Nadda, follows the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who abruptly stepped down as Vice President of India and Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha on July 21, citing health reasons.
Though the vice president is elected through a formal voting process, the nominee of the ruling party generally secures the position.
South First had earlier reported that Radhakrishnan was being considered for the role.
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, a native of Tiruppur, has been a long-time BJP leader and an early member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He has played a significant role in strengthening the party’s presence in Tamil Nadu and served as the BJP’s Tamil Nadu state president from 2004 to 2007.
Radhakrishnan was elected to the Lok Sabha twice from Coimbatore – in 1998 and 1999, following the Coimbatore bomb blasts.
During his parliamentary tenure, he was a member and chairperson of several parliamentary committees. He could not, however, secure victory in any subsequent parliamentary elections he contested.
In 2023, Radhakrishnan was appointed Governor of Jharkhand.
In March 2024, when Tamilisai Soundararajan stepped down as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry to contest parliamentary elections, he was given additional charge of those two states.
In July 2024, he was appointed Governor of Maharashtra. Within less than two years, he has held gubernatorial responsibilities in more than three states – a rare occurrence in Indian politics.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
