New Delhi: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced on 17 August that Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan is its candidate for the Vice-Presidential election, scheduled for 9 September.
The decision was taken at the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and later announced by BJP president J.P. Nadda.
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— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 17, 2025
Radhakrishnan is a two-time former MP from Coimbatore and a former Tamil Nadu BJP chief.
“The current Maharashtra Governor will be the NDA’s candidate for Vice-President,†Nadda said, adding that NDA allies were consulted and had endorsed the choice. He also indicated that outreach to the Opposition would follow.
The election was necessitated by the resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar last month, citing health reasons.
Born in Tiruppur district in 1957, Radhakrishnan began his political journey as a teenager in the Jan Sangh and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), later rising through the BJP’s ranks.
He earned his parliamentary seat in 1998, winning from Coimbatore in the aftermath of the serial bomb blasts that shook the city during L.K. Advani’s campaign. He retained the seat in 1999 with DMK’s support but was unsuccessful in subsequent elections. He led the Tamil Nadu BJP between 2003 and 2006 and has since been known for his conciliatory political style, earning him the nickname “Vajpayee of Coimbatore.â€
He also served as Governor of Jharkhand in 2023–24, also holding additional charge of Telangana and Puducherry, before being appointed Governor of Maharashtra in July 2024.
Met Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji. Conveyed my best wishes on his being the NDA’s Vice Presidential nominee. His long years of public service and experience across domains will greatly enrich our nation. May he continue to serve the nation with the same dedication and resolve he has… pic.twitter.com/5vjFzzwUqn
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 18, 2025
Nadda highlighted his work in public health campaigns, such as tuberculosis eradication and his wide exposure, having visited 24 countries during his career.
The Vice-Presidential Electoral College consists of MPs from both Houses of Parliament, where the NDA enjoys a comfortable majority. Nominations close on 21 August, with results to be declared on polling day, 9 September.
If elected, Radhakrishnan will be the second Vice-President from Tamil Nadu after R. Venkataraman, who held the office between 1984 and 1987.
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