The
BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday announced Maharashtra
Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its official candidate for the upcoming Vice
Presidential election, scheduled for September 9. The decision came after an
extensive deliberation during the BJP parliamentary board meeting, attended by
top party leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home
Minister Amit Shah.
Following
the meeting, BJP national president JP Nadda revealed the name and praised
Radhakrishnan’s long-standing service and commitment to the party and the
nation.
Who is
CP Radhakrishnan?
Chandrapuram
Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, is
one of the senior-most leaders of the BJP from South India. Often referred to
as the “Modi of Tamil Nadu” for his organizational strength and leadership
qualities, Radhakrishnan brings decades of political experience to the table.
He earned
a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has been closely associated
with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Jan Sangh since
the age of 16. His political journey began in the early 1970s, and he played a
significant role in expanding the BJP’s footprint in Tamil Nadu.
Political
Career Highlights
- Two-Time MP: Radhakrishnan was elected to
the Lok Sabha twice from Coimbatore in the 1998 and 1999 general
elections. He won by a margin of over 150,000 votes in 1998 and 55,000
votes in 1999, during the politically sensitive period following the
Coimbatore bombings.
- BJP State President
(2004–2007): As
Tamil Nadu BJP chief, he launched a 93-day “Rath Yatra” covering all
constituencies in the state. The campaign advocated river-linking
projects, eradication of untouchability, and anti-terrorism measures.
- Key Party Roles: He served as BJP’s in-charge
for Kerala (2020–2022) and chaired the All India Coir Board under the MSME
Ministry from 2016 to 2020.
- International Representation: Radhakrishnan was part of a
parliamentary delegation to the United Nations in 2004 and addressed the
58th UN General Assembly on humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. He
also represented India in Taiwan in 2014 as part of a government
delegation.
Governorship
and Administrative Roles
Radhakrishnan
took oath as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra on July 31, 2024. Before this, he
served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024. He was
also entrusted with additional charges as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant
Governor of Puducherry between March and July 2024.
Personal
Interests
Apart from
politics, Radhakrishnan has an active interest in sports. He was a college
champion in table tennis and excelled in long-distance running. He also enjoys
cricket and volleyball, as mentioned on the Maharashtra Raj Bhavan website.
Vice
Presidential Election Details
The
Election Commission has scheduled the vice presidential election for September
9, following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar last month. The last date for
filing nominations is August 21, and scrutiny will take place on August 22. The vice president is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both
houses of Parliament.
Significance
of the Announcement
Radhakrishnan’s
nomination underscores the BJP’s strategy to strengthen its presence in South
India and reward leaders with extensive organizational experience. With his
deep-rooted association with the RSS and BJP, as well as his long-standing
public service record, he is expected to secure strong backing from NDA allies.
As the
election draws closer, all eyes will be on the numbers game in Parliament.
However, with the NDA’s current strength, CP Radhakrishnan appears
well-positioned to succeed in the upcoming contest.
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