NDA Picks Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as Vice-President Candidate
TNT News Desk | In a major political development ahead of the Vice-President polls scheduled for September 9, 2025, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has officially announced Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate. The decision was confirmed by BJP National President JP Nadda following the party’s parliamentary board meeting.
CP Radhakrishnan is a seasoned politician with over four decades of public service experience. Currently the Governor of Maharashtra, he has previously held gubernatorial roles in Jharkhand, Telangana, and Puducherry, and served two terms as a Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore. His appointment signals a strategic move by the NDA, combining political acumen with vast administrative experience to strengthen their position in the election.
The Vice-President’s post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21 citing health reasons. Backed by a majority in the electoral college, which consists of members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the NDA is favored for a smooth victory. The opposition INDIA bloc is expected to announce their candidate soon, with internal discussions underway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the nomination, praising Radhakrishnan’s dedication, humility, and his extensive grassroots work in Tamil Nadu. Modi highlighted his rich legislative and constitutional knowledge and expressed confidence that he would make an inspiring Vice-President.
All NDA chief ministers and deputy chief ministers have been called to Delhi on August 21 for the nomination proceedings, underscoring the importance of this election. Political analysts view this nomination as a crucial strategic step for consolidating NDA’s influence, particularly in Tamil Nadu ahead of next year’s state elections.
Currently, the NDA commands a comfortable majority in the electoral college, which has an effective strength of 786 members across both Houses of Parliament. A candidate needs at least 394 votes for a majority. The NDA holds support from 422 members—293 in the 542-member Lok Sabha and 129 in the 240-member Rajya Sabha, including nominated members—placing Radhakrishnan in a strong position for victory.
However, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), a key regional party from Odisha, has declared it will not support the NDA candidate. BJD leader Mahesh Sahoo confirmed their opposition, marking a departure from their past conditional support to the NDA.
Despite this, NDA’s numerical advantage remains substantial, positioning CP Radhakrishnan as the frontrunner in the upcoming Vice-President election.
