Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday extended his appreciation for the NDA’s choice of CP Radhakrishnan as the party’s Vice Presidential candidate. Speaking to ANI, Raut described Radhakrishnan as having a “very good personality” and termed him “non-controversial”.
“He has a lot of experience. I extend best wishes to him,” Raut added.
The NDA’s nomination comes after extensive consultations with alliance partners, according to BJP President JP Nadda, who confirmed that the decision was finalized by the BJP Parliamentary Board chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Opposition Engagement and Consensus Hopes
Nadda revealed that senior BJP leaders reached out to opposition parties regarding the nominee.
“The opposition leaders conveyed to us that their decision to support the nominee will depend on the candidate. We are hopeful that the VP will be elected by consensus,” he said.
The Vice Presidential election has been scheduled for September 9, as announced by the Election Commission of India.
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Radhakrishnan’s Political and Gubernatorial Journey
CP Radhakrishnan, 68, is currently serving as the Governor of Maharashtra, having assumed office on July 31, 2024. He served as Jharkhand’s governor for almost a year and a half prior to this.
Prime Minister Modi lauded Radhakrishnan on social media platform X, highlighting his “rich experience” as a Member of Parliament and as Governor across multiple states. Modi praised his legislative interventions as “incisive” and noted that his gubernatorial tenure focused on addressing challenges faced by citizens, building his expertise in legislative and constitutional matters.
From RSS Roots to National Politics
Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He started his political career with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and then joined the Bharatiya Janasangh in 1974 as a member of the State Executive Committee.
As a seasoned and non-controversial leader, Radhakrishnan looks to fit in well with the NDA’s approach of gaining support from all parties, which makes him a formidable contender for the vice presidency.
With consensus support appearing possible and the election set for September 9, attention now shifts to the campaigning period and how various parties align ahead of the vote.Radhakrishnan’s vast background in both parliamentary and governor capacities may be crucial to his campaign for the position of vice president of India.
