PM Modi Picks CP Radhakrishnan as NDA’s Surprise Vice-Presidential Candidate

Vice President Candidate: Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan will be the NDA's vice president candidate. BJP President JP Nadda announced this. The last date for candidates to file their nomination is August 21.

CP Radhakrishnan News

In a big political announcement, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has chosen Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan as its Vice President. BJP National President J. P. Nadda disclosed the decision on Sunday, confirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself approved the name.

CP Radhakrishnan Named NDA’s Vice Presidential Candidate — PM Modi’s Choice Signals a Strategic Move

Radhakrishnan, a seasoned leader from Tamil Nadu, has had a long journey in politics. Starting with the RSS and Jan Sangh at the age of just 16, he went on to become a two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999, and later served as the state president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu from 2003 to 2006.

Currently the 24th Governor of Maharashtra since July 2024, Radhakrishnan has also held key gubernatorial positions in Jharkhand, Telangana, and Puducherry — earning a reputation for administrative balance and political acumen.

The Vice Presidential election is set for September 9, with August 21 as the last date for nominations. While the Opposition may put forward a candidate, the NDA enjoys a comfortable edge in the 781-member electoral college, backed by at least 422 members. Even with secret voting, the ruling alliance is in pole position to secure victory.

The election comes after the unexpected resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health concerns, making the race for Vice President both sudden and high-stakes.

With Modi’s nod, Radhakrishnan’s candidacy not only cements the NDA’s strength but also signals a strategic outreach towards southern India — a region where the BJP is eager to expand its influence.

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Vice President Elections 2025

The Vice Presidential election will be held on September 9, 2025, with August 21 as the last date for nominations. The INDIA bloc has also confirmed it will field a candidate, but NDA holds a clear numerical edge in the electoral college.

Summary Table

Event	Details
Outgoing VP	Jagdeep Dhankhar – Resigned on July 21, 2025
Selection Authorization	NDA empowered Modi & Nadda on August 8, 2025
Candidate Pool Considered	VK Saxena, Arif Khan, Gehlot, Sinha, etc.
NDA Nominee	C. P. Radhakrishnan – announced August 17, 2025
Nomination Deadline	August 21, 2025
Election Date	September 9, 2025

The Vice President election 2025 will be decided by a 781-member electoral college consisting of both Houses of Parliament. The NDA currently commands the support of over 420 MPs, giving its candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan a strong edge. On the other hand, the INDIA bloc, despite controlling key regional parties, falls short of the majority mark and will likely contest symbolically to demonstrate unity. With secret voting allowed, cross-voting cannot be ruled out, but the numerical advantage clearly favors NDA in this high-stakes election.