The BJP has named Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the NDA’s candidate for the September 9 Vice Presidential election, following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation.
By CNBCTV18.com August 17, 2025, 8:29:28 PM IST (Published)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday (August 17) announced Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election scheduled for September 9.
His name was finalised at the BJP Parliamentary board meeting held at the party headquarters.
“We want the next Vice President to be elected unanimously. We have reached out to opposition leaders,” BJP president JP Nadda said, while announcing the candidature. “CP Radhakrishnan, considered a statesman, commands respect across all sections of society in Tamil Nadu,” he added.
The NDA had authorised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nadda to finalise the alliance candidate. The decision comes after the abrupt resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 during the Parliament session. Dhankhar cited health reasons, though the opposition claimed differences with the government prompted the move.
With a comfortable majority in the electoral college comprising Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, the NDA is set for an easy win if the election is contested. The opposition INDIA bloc is expected to deliberate on fielding its candidate in a meeting scheduled for August 18.
Meanwhile, all NDA chief ministers and deputy chief ministers have been called to Delhi on August 21 for the nomination filing.
Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Chandrapuram Ponnuswamy Radhakrishnan has been a long-serving BJP leader. He was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore (1998, 1999) and also served as BJP’s Tamil Nadu state president from 2003 to 2006.
Over the years, he has held several gubernatorial posts. Radhakrishnan took charge as Governor of Maharashtra in July 2024, after serving as Jharkhand Governor (2023–2024). He also held additional responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry in 2024.
