New Delhi: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has officially declared Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the upcoming Vice President election. The opposition INDIA bloc, however, is yet to announce its nominee and will be holding a crucial meeting today at 12:30 PM at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, where leaders of all opposition parties are expected to finalize a common candidate.
In the 2022 Vice President polls, NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar defeated UPA’s Margaret Alva. This time, sources indicate that the INDIA bloc is considering several names, including former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai, who led the Chandrayaan-1 mission, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, historian and Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, and even a Dalit intellectual from Maharashtra.
Radhakrishnan arrived in Delhi on Monday, where he was received by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior BJP leaders. He later met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the NDA enjoying a clear majority in Parliament, Radhakrishnan’s election is seen as almost certain. The key question remains whether the opposition will field a candidate or allow a unanimous election.
Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21 due to health reasons, prompting the Election Commission to announce fresh polls. Voting is scheduled for September 9, with counting on the same day.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached out to YSR Congress Party chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, requesting support for Radhakrishnan’s unanimous election. Acting on the advice of PM Modi, Singh urged Jagan to back the NDA nominee. The YSRCP currently has four MPs in the Lok Sabha and seven in the Rajya Sabha, and has in the past extended support to NDA candidates for constitutional posts. However, with a coalition government in power in Andhra Pradesh, Jagan’s decision is being watched closely in political circles.