V-P poll: NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan, accompanied by PM Modi, files nomination in ruling coalition's show of strength

Radhakrishnan's name was proposed for the nomination by the Prime Minister who was also joined by top BJP leaders, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Janata Dal (United) MP Lalan Singh, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan were among the key allies of BJP present at the nomination filing of Radhakrishnan, who is currently serving as the Maharashtra Governor.

Weeks after Jagdeep Dhankhar shockingly resigned as the Vice President of India, the country's ruling coalition NDA picked Radhakrishnan for the election to the post.

BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday announced Radhakrishnan's name after a parliamentary board meeting.

The seat fell vacant after Dhankhar stepped down from the post on the first day of the monsoon session on July 21 citing health issues.

The V-P poll will be held on September 9 and the result will be declared on the same day.

The opposition- INDIA bloc- has fielded former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the election, which the opposition camp called an "ideological battle".

Though the INDIA bloc decides to fight the poll, the ruling coalition is expected to sail through with its numbers.

(From L to R) CP Radhakrishnan and PM Modi. Photo: Narendra Modi/X

Who is CP Radhakrishnan?

A politician from Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan was a member of the BJP.

He is currently serving as the Maharashtra Governor. He assumed the post on July 31, 2024.

In 1998, Radhakrishnan was elected as a Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore on a BJP ticket. He was re-elected from the same constituency the following year.

He served as the BJP's Tamil Nadu state unit president from 2001 to 2005.

A member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Radhakrishnan previously served as the Jharkhand Governor.

He was also given the additional charge of Governor of Telangana and Lt. Governor of Puducherry.