Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, who began his political journey as an RSS swayamsevak, was on Sunday named the NDA’s candidate for the upcoming Vice-Presidential election.
If his nomination sails through – the NDA has the requisite numbers – Radhakrishnan will be the third Vice President from Tamil Nadu, after Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and R Venkataraman.
With over four decades of experience in politics and governance, Radhakrishnan is widely seen as a seasoned leader with deep roots in Tamil Nadu’s polity. His nomination is seen as a strategic move by the BJP ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election, especially in view of the MK Stalin-led DMK’s campaign against the BJP based on Tamil identity.
The Vice-President of India holds the second-highest constitutional office for a five-year term. The Vice-President serves as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and has no other paid positions. As the ex-officio Chairperson, they preside over the sessions of the Council of States.
Though politically significant, Radhakrishnan will not be the first Vice President from South India.
Who were the other VPs from South India?
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President of independent India, serving from 1952 to 1962. Hailing from a modest family in Thiruthani, Tamil Nadu, he also became the second President of India.
Dr Zakir Husain, hailing from Hyderabad, was the second VP of India (1962 to 1967). He also went on to become the third President of India.
Basappa Danappa, popularly known as BD Jatti, was the fifth Vice VP from 1974 to 1979. Born in Karnataka’s Bijapur district, Jatti was also the acting President from February 11 to July 25, 1977.
Ramasamy Venkataraman, widely known as R Venkataraman, served as the Vice President from 1984 until 1987. Born in Tamil Nadu’s Rajamadam, he also later became the President.
Born in the village of Uzhavoor in Kerala, KR Narayanan was the first VP from Kerala. On August 21, 1992, KR Narayanan was sworn in as the Vice-President of the country. He went on to become the 10th President of India in 1997. He also became the first Dalit to ascend to this high office.
M Venkaiah Naidu became the 13th Vice-President on August 5, 2017, after defeating Opposition candidate Gopal Krishna Gandhi. He was born on July 1, 1949, in Chavatapalem, a remote village in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district to a farmer family.
How CP Radhakrishnan can strengthen BJP in Tamil Nadu and beyond
CP Radhakrishnan, the governor of Maharashtra, is a BJP veteran from Tamil Nadu. He is also said to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Picking Radhakrishnan, who belongs to the OBC Gounder community, is seen as a calculated move by the BJP with an eye on electoral arithmetic and deeper regional strategy. The NDA’s VP candidate reportedly enjoys cross-party goodwill, including with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The elevation of Radhakrishnan is expected to reinforce the AIADMK alliance by strengthening the political influence of the Gounder community, on one hand, and helping to rebuild the BJP in the region on the other. When the BJP replaced its state chief Annamalai, from West Tamil Nadu, with Nainar Nagendran, who hails from the south, political circles said that the BJP’s calculation was to tap the Thevar community's votes in southern Tamil Nadu.
By nominating Radhakrishnan as the vice president candidate, the NDA is attempting to control the damage caused by Annamalai’s exit. Vastly different from his predecessor, Radhakrishnan can balance the caste appeal combined with his organisational skills.
The BJP has been at loggerheads with the DMK over alleged Hindi imposition, NEET, and fund allocation. Radhakrishnan's candidature is expected to soften the BJP’s image in Tamil Nadu and project itself as a party of inclusivity.
According to The Week, Radhakrishnan has maintained a good rapport with the DMK leadership. When Stalin's brother-in-law and editor of DMK mouthpiece Murasoli, Selvam, died, Radhakrishnan was one of the BJP leaders to call on the chief minister.
DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan has also told NDTV that the NDA's vice president pick is "a good decision". However, he said that since DMK is part of the INDIA bloc, it will follow the alliance's decision.
Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has also decided to support his candidature. According to reports, the YSRCP made the decision after a call by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Jagan on August 13.
Tamil Nadu, where elections are due in less than a year, has been a big focus for BJP which has failed to register electoral success. This, despite its vote share increasing from 3.6% in 2019 to 11.1% in the 2024 general elections.
Derailing the DMK’s campaign
By picking Radhakrishnan, a leader with strong roots in Tamil Nadu, the BJP hopes to derail the DMK’s campaign which is based entirely on the issue of Tamil pride and identity. A two-time Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore, Radhakrishnan later served as Tamil Nadu BJP president and went on to hold gubernatorial posts in Jharkhand, holding additional responsibilities in Telangana and Puducherry, and currently Maharashtra.
This becomes particularly significant since the DMK has framed the entire contest in Tamil Nadu around Tamil identity and language pride and repeatedly accused the BJP of imposing Hindi, ignoring Tamil Nadu's opposition to NEET, and withholding funds to the state.
By projecting a Tamil face as Vice President, the BJP has effectively countered charges of being "anti-Tamil" and rebrand itself, shedding its image of an “outsider”.
While Radhakrishnan’s victory may be a forgone conclusion, the BJP can still use this symbolic victory to send a strong message to the electorate in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls while also expanding its appeal in South India, where it has struggled so far.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
