The NDA’s decision to field Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election has drawn mixed reactions from opposition leaders, who said a final stand would be taken only after consultations within the INDIA bloc.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav struck a cautious note, remarking, “The position of Vice President is vacant. A new one will be elected—it is a good thing. What decision we will take is a different matter; we will sit and decide.”
He also added that any dialogue with BJP leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, would depend on political necessity, but the final stance would be shaped by the INDIA alliance.
SP veteran Ram Gopal Yadav emphasised the importance of consensus for high constitutional roles, saying, “Posts like President, Vice President, and Lok Sabha Speaker should ideally be filled through consensus. We believe people from South India are capable and good, but we don’t have full details yet.”
From the Shiv Sena (UBT), MP Priyanka Chaturvedi underlined Radhakrishnan’s experience, noting his stints as Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand, as well as his tenure in Parliament. She added, “If he is elected, I hope the dignity of the post will be fully restored, as it has been weakened significantly.”
Her party colleague Sanjay Raut echoed the sentiment, describing Radhakrishnan as “a balanced personality,” but said broader issues remained urgent.
“If the Governor of Maharashtra becomes the Vice President, we will be happy. But the INDIA alliance will decide its position. Right now, the more serious issue is vote theft—we cannot let attention be diverted.”
The Vice Presidential election is scheduled for September 9, with the last date for nominations set for August 21 and withdrawal until August 25. Counting will take place on the same day as polling.
The post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, citing health reasons.
Radhakrishnan, currently the 24th Governor of Maharashtra, assumed office on July 31, 2024.
