Maharashtra governor Radhakrishnan, a BJP veteran from Tamil Nadu, named NDA's vice presidential candidate

New Delhi: Maharashtra governor Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, a BJP veteran from Tamil Nadu, was on Sunday named the vice presidential candidate of the ruling NDA. Having been with the RSS since his school days, Radhakrishnan, 67, is an OBC leader from the influential Gounder community in the southern state.

BJP president JP Nadda made the announcement following a meeting of the party parliamentary board, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and consultation with allies. Nadda appealed for his unanimous election. Apart from the political messaging — a southern OBC leader — the candidate’s warm ties with those on the other side of the aisle suggest that the ruling party wants a less combative chairman of the Rajya Sabha than predecessor Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Dhankhar had resigned abruptly in July citing health reasons. He’d been three years into a five-year term. Besides, Tamil Nadu’s assembly polls are scheduled for next year. Given that India has a president from Scheduled Tribe category and an OBC prime minister, Radhakrishnan’s choice will help the BJP garner support from the underprivileged sections, analysts said.

If the Opposition names a candidate, then the election will be held on September 9. “He’s considered a statesman,” Nadda said of the former MP who was made Jharkhand governor in 2023 and shifted to Maharashtra in July 2024.

Radhakrishnan joined the Jana Sangh, the BJP’s precursor, at the age of 17 and worked for the RSS in Tamil Nadu. He won from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999 and lost in 2004, 2009 and 2014. During his tenure as BJP’s state unit chief, he carried out a 19,000 km yatra.

“Radhakrishan is a simple man with high integrity,” said Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy. “In 1998, he won from Coimbatore on BJP’s ticket in alliance with AIADMK and enjoyed good relations with party stalwart, late J Jayalalithaa.

In 1999, he won from the same seat when BJP was in alliance with DMK. He also had good relations with DMK supremo, late M Karunanidhi.” He had even hailed MK Stalin as the “commander who defeated BJP” in Tamil Nadu after 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Radhakrishnan is a two-time Lok Sabha member from Coimbatore, having contested the seat five times on a BJP ticket. In the party’s state unit, he’s known as the ‘Vajpayee of Coimbatore’ and ‘Ajatshatru’ (without enemies), sources said. He shares cordial relations with leaders across party lines including both dominant players in Tamil Nadu politics, the DMK and the AIADMK.

BIG SUPPORT
His election is assured, since the BJP-led NDA has more than 420 members out of 781 in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. It may also get the support of fence-sitters like the YSRCP and the BJD. Announcing his candidature after the parliamentary board meeting, Nadda said BJP leaders had spoken to the Opposition over the past week and will continue to do so.

Opposition leaders had told BJP interlocutors that they can make up their mind only after the ruling alliance’s nominee is identified, he noted, adding that his party will reach out to them again. The BJP hopes that his elevation will help it make inroads in Tamil Nadu, where assembly polls are due next year, analysts said. POLL PROCESS Nadda emphasised Radhakrishnan’s nearly 40 years in public service, noting that he is well regarded across party lines and commands the respect of various sections of society