With the Vice Presidential election on the horizon, scheduled for September 9, 2025, political activity is intensifying in both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc. The NDA has nominated Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as their candidate for the Vice Presidential post. In a move signaling a consensus-building approach, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached out to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking the opposition's support for Radhakrishnan.

The selection of C.P. Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader from Tamil Nadu with strong ties to the RSS, was announced by BJP President J.P. Nadda after a meeting of the party's parliamentary board, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nadda stated that senior BJP leaders had contacted opposition parties, expressing hope that the Vice President would be elected by consensus. The BJP believes that Radhakrishnan's nomination could garner support from a wider spectrum of the opposition, particularly the DMK in Tamil Nadu, which is slated for elections in 2026. Radhakrishnan, who belongs to the Gounder caste, has served as the governor of Jharkhand and held additional charge of Telangana, as well as serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

In response to the NDA's announcement, the INDIA bloc convened a meeting of its floor leaders on Monday morning to discuss a joint candidate for the Vice Presidential election. Sources indicated that the meeting took place at Mallikarjun Kharge's office, where leaders discussed their strategy. The Congress-led INDIA bloc had previously announced its intention to field a joint 'non-political' candidate for the election.

Several NDA allies have welcomed Radhakrishnan's nomination, including TDP, LJP (Ram Vilas), and HAM (Secular). TDP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conveyed his party's support for the NDA nominee. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), also pledged his party's support for Radhakrishnan.

The Vice Presidential election was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent, Jagdeep Dhankhar, last month. The last date for filing nominations is August 22, 2025. If the opposition fields a candidate, the election will be held on September 9, 2025. The BJP has instructed all Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers from NDA-ruled states to be in Delhi on August 21 for the filing of nomination papers. Prior to this, an NDA dinner party is scheduled for August 20, where the consensus candidate's name will likely be approved and announced. The BJP has also asked its MPs from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to remain in Delhi between September 6 and 9 to attend a workshop on voting procedures for the Vice Presidential election at the BJP headquarters.

Rajnath Singh will oversee the election process, with Kiren Rijiju serving as the polling agent. The coming days will be crucial as both the NDA and the INDIA bloc strategize and negotiate to secure their desired outcome in the Vice Presidential election.