'Will greatly enrich our nation': PM Modi after meeting CP Radhakrishnan

CP Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, has been named as the NDA's VP candidate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met NDA’s Vice President candidate and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan in New Delhi.

"Met Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji. Conveyed my best wishes on his being the NDA’s Vice Presidential nominee. His long years of public service and experience across domains will greatly enrich our nation. May he continue to serve the nation with the same dedication and resolve he has always demonstrated," PM Modi said in a post on X.

Radhakrishnan is likely to file his nomination on August 20. He is expected to be felicitated at the meeting of the NDA parliamentary party on Tuesday. He arrived in New Delhi to take part in various meetings of the NDA.

BJP leaders and NDA allies have been hailing hailed Radhakrishnan's experience, integrity, and parliamentary knowledge.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal welcomed the move, saying, "This is a very welcome step. CP Radhakrishnan is a highly learned person and understands parliamentary decorum. There is full hope that he will bring dignity not only as Vice President but also as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha...All of us congratulate him..."

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari said he has a lot of experience, so "Parliament and Rajya Sabha both will benefit from him."

From the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), MP Krishna Prasad Tenneti highlighted Radhakrishnan's service-oriented record. "...CP Radhakrishnan is a highly experienced administrator, he has vast experience and is known for his services to society, especially the marginalised sections...He is a very good choice."

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami extended his congratulations, linking the nomination to Radhakrishnan's long career of public service.

In a post on X he wrote, "Heartfelt congratulations to the Honorable Governor @CPRGuv, who has been selected as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance. This is a crowning achievement for the public service and dedicated social activities of the Honorable C.P. Radhakrishnan, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Governor of Maharashtra.

I extend my sincere best wishes to the Honorable Prime Minister of India @narendramodi, the senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Honorable @JPNadda, for selecting a person from Tamil Nadu as the Vice-Presidential candidate on behalf of the National Democratic Alliance," he added.

The Vice Presidential election is expected to see a clear contest between the NDA's nominee and a yet-to-be-announced candidate of the INDIA bloc.

Radhakrishnan is currently serving as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra, a post he assumed on July 31, 2024.

The Election Commission had earlier announced that polling for the Vice Presidential election will take place on September 9, with counting of votes scheduled for the same day.

The last date for filing nominations is August 21.  The post of Vice President fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, citing health reasons.