BJP seeks opposition’s support for C P Radhakrishnan, congress for non-political face

NEW DELHI: The NDA decided on senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan as their vice-presidential candidate. The decision over the candidate of INDIA alliance can be known only after the meeting of the opposition parties that will be held at the office of Rajya Sabha opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge at 10.15 am today. The BJP has started efforts to unanimously select C P Radhakrishnan. The party has sought the support of the opposition parties.

Meantime, the Congress has decided to have a candidate for the post. They are considering someone not belonging to any of the political parties. A decision in this regard is likely to be taken this morning. There are hints that Rahul Gandhi may discuss the candidate issue with DMK, an active party in the INDIA alliance. Rahul may meet M K Stalin for this.

The DMK has decided not to support C P Radhakrishnan even though he is a native of Tamil Nadu. While their political stance is to strongly oppose the BJP, the party has decided to oppose the vice-presidential candidate even if he is from Tamil Nadu. When queried why opposing him even after being a native of Tamil Nadu, they asked what he has given to Tamil Nadu.

C P Radhakrishnan was the BJP Prabhari in-charge of Kerala during 2020-22. He worked as the chairman of the Coir Board in Kochi during 2016-20. Radhakrishnan speaks Malayalam fluently and most of his staff are Malayalees. After the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting, National President and Union Minister J P Nadda announced his name. Leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the meeting.

Nadda said that he wants the next vice president to be elected unanimously and that he will hold discussions with opposition leaders. The elections are on September 9. The vacancy arose after the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on his X account that he is confident that C P Radhakrishnan would be an excellent vice president. He also shared a picture with him.