INDIA Bloc Moves to Finalise Vice-Presidential Candidate After NDA Picks C P Radhakrishnan
A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formally announced C P Radhakrishnan as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee for the upcoming Vice-Presidential elections, the Opposition INDIA bloc intensified its deliberations to zero in on a common challenger.
The elections are scheduled for September 9, 2025, and while the NDA enjoys a clear numerical advantage in Parliament, the Opposition has decided to field a candidate as a matter of principle and symbolism.
INDIA Bloc’s Strategy Meeting
On Monday evening, leaders of the INDIA bloc gathered at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss potential nominees. According to sources present at the meeting:
- NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar proposed the name of Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and a noted author.
- The DMK pushed for M Annadurai, a distinguished former ISRO scientist and Padma Shri awardee, best known as the programme director for Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, and the Mars Orbiter Mission.
The DMK’s insistence on Annadurai stems from the BJP’s choice of Radhakrishnan, a Tamil Nadu veteran. Party leaders believe fielding a prominent Tamil figure would help neutralise any political mileage the BJP and AIADMK might attempt to gain ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Other names, including that of a former judge, were also briefly considered, but insiders say the consensus is gravitating towards either Tushar Gandhi or Annadurai.
Trinamool Congress and the Non-Politician Push
Interestingly, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been advocating for a non-political nominee to represent the Opposition. Party sources indicated that both Gandhi and Annadurai fit this requirement, and the TMC is ready to extend support this time.
This marks a contrast to the 2017 Vice-Presidential election, when the TMC abstained, claiming that Margaret Alva was fielded by the Opposition without its consultation. This time, however, the INDIA bloc appears united in its approach.
If nominated, Tushar Gandhi would become the second member of Mahatma Gandhi’s family to contest the Vice-Presidential polls. In 2017, his grandfather Rajmohan Gandhi was the Opposition’s choice against NDA candidate M Venkaiah Naidu.
NDA’s Candidate: C P Radhakrishnan
On the other side, the ruling NDA has rallied behind C P Radhakrishnan, a senior BJP leader from Tamil Nadu and the current Governor of Maharashtra.
- On Monday, Radhakrishnan arrived in New Delhi, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was later hosted by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in the presence of senior NDA allies, including JD(U)’s Sanjay Kumar Jha and Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel.
- PM Modi, in a post on X, lauded his nomination, saying: 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.”
- Joshi, who hosted the NDA meeting, echoed similar sentiments, congratulating Radhakrishnan on behalf of the alliance.
Radhakrishnan will be formally introduced to the NDA Parliamentary Party before filing his nomination papers on Tuesday.
Campaign Machinery in Motion
The BJP has already activated its campaign strategy:
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been appointed as campaign manager and is reaching out to leaders across party lines.
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has been named Radhakrishnan’s election agent. Rijiju has spoken with Rahul Gandhi, while Rajnath Singh personally called Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday evening seeking broader support.
- Radhakrishnan was also received in Delhi by Bhupender Yadav, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP), and several BJP leaders, signifying the NDA’s coordinated backing.
Tamil Nadu Factor at Play
The Vice-Presidential election has acquired a strong Tamil Nadu subtext.
- The BJP is projecting Radhakrishnan’s nomination as a “moment of Tamil pride.”
- Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran even urged the ruling DMK to “correct its historic blunder” of not supporting A P J Abdul Kalam for a second presidential term in 2007.
- The DMK, wary of BJP-AIADMK leveraging this narrative in the upcoming state polls, is therefore lobbying within the INDIA bloc for a Tamil candidate like Annadurai to neutralise the advantage.
The INDIA bloc will reconvene at noon on Tuesday, when Congress chief Kharge is expected to take the final call on the joint Opposition nominee.
Regardless of who emerges as the INDIA bloc’s candidate, the contest is seen as symbolic, as the NDA commands the parliamentary numbers to ensure Radhakrishnan’s smooth victory. Still, the choice of a candidate could carry political weight, particularly in Tamil Nadu’s charged political climate.
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