NEW DELHI – The National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s candidate for the upcoming Vice-Presidential election, C. P. Radhakrishnan, formally filed his nomination at Parliament House on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. The filing marks a major step toward the September 9 election, where he is widely expected to secure a victory given the NDA’s majority in the electoral college.
Radhakrishnan, the current Governor of Maharashtra, was accompanied by a host of senior BJP and NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, BJP President J. P. Nadda, and leaders from allied parties like the JD(U) and LJP (R).
Before filing his nomination papers, Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes at the newly inaugurated Prerna Sthal within the Parliament House complex. The Sthal, which was recently created to consolidate statues of India’s eminent leaders and freedom fighters from various locations within the complex, is intended to serve as a single, inspiring space for visitors. Radhakrishnan was seen bowing before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and other prominent figures, a symbolic gesture of respect to the nation’s history.
The election for the Vice President of India is conducted by an electoral college consisting of members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Vice President holds the second-highest constitutional office in the country and also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. The opposition, led by the INDIA bloc, has also announced its candidate, setting the stage for a contest, although the numbers favor the NDA.
C. P. Radhakrishnan’s nomination follows the recent resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. His selection as the NDA candidate highlights his long political career, which includes serving as a two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore and holding various gubernatorial positions.
ATP