National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate CP Radhakrishnan officially entered the race for Vice President of India by filing his nomination at Parliament House on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally proposed his candidature, signing the first set of nomination papers, underscoring the strong backing Radhakrishnan enjoys from the ruling alliance.
The nomination was filed in four sets, each signed by 20 proposers and 20 seconders. Alongside PM Modi, several key leaders were present, reflecting the NDA’s united front. Those in attendance included Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Prominent allies also joined, such as JD(U)’s Lalan Singh, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, TDP’s K Ram Mohan Naidu, AIADMK veteran M Thambi Durai, HAM founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, NCP’s Praful Patel, Shiv Sena’s Prataprao Jadhav, AGP’s Birendra Prasad Baishya, Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel, and RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale.
The Prime Minister had recently lauded Radhakrishnan on social media, describing him as a leader marked by “dedication, humility, and intellect,” praising his long-standing work for marginalized groups. His selection as the NDA’s candidate was sealed unanimously during a strategy session at Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s residence, where alliance leaders affirmed their collective support.
Radhakrishnan, currently serving as the Governor of Maharashtra, is a senior BJP leader with decades of legislative and administrative experience. A former parliamentarian from Tamil Nadu, he is widely respected for his grassroots presence and emphasis on social development. With the NDA holding numerical strength in Parliament, he is considered the frontrunner in next month’s Vice Presidential election.
Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc has fielded former Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the decision on August 19, highlighting that all member parties had agreed unanimously on Reddy’s name. Kharge described the joint choice as “a big achievement for democracy,” underlining the opposition’s effort to present a united challenge.
The election, necessitated by the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, will take place on September 9. The last date for filing nominations is August 22. Whoever wins will assume one of the nation’s highest constitutional offices, shaping the next phase of parliamentary leadership.
