The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has declared Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as their candidate for the upcoming Vice-Presidential election, scheduled for September 9, 2025. The announcement was made on Sunday, August 17, 2025, by BJP National President JP Nadda following the party's Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc is expected to meet today, August 18, 2025, to discuss and possibly finalize its own candidate for the election.
C.P. Radhakrishnan, a veteran BJP leader, brings a wealth of experience to the table. He is currently serving as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra, a position he assumed on July 31, 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024, and also held additional charge as the Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry between March and July 2024. Radhakrishnan has also been elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore twice and has served as the Tamil Nadu BJP State President.
According to JP Nadda, the decision to nominate Radhakrishnan was taken after extensive discussions with NDA partners. He also mentioned that senior BJP leaders have reached out to opposition parties, hoping for a consensus in the election. "We will discuss our opposition party as well to smooth the VP election," Nadda stated. The BJP believes that Radhakrishnan's nomination, given his extensive background and RSS connection, may even garner support from the DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his confidence in Radhakrishnan's capabilities. "In his long years in public life, Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has distinguished himself with his dedication, humility and intellect," Modi said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). He further added, "During the various positions he has held, he has always focused on community service and empowering the marginalised".
The INDIA bloc, comprising opposition parties, is scheduled to meet to discuss their strategy and potential candidate. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will preside over the meeting of parliamentary floor leaders, where they are expected to deliberate on a consensus candidate. A senior Congress leader mentioned that they would reach out to other opposition leaders to arrive at a common choice. While the NDA holds a numerical advantage in the electoral college, the INDIA bloc aims to contest the election to make a political statement. The INDIA bloc previously announced their decision to field a joint 'non-political' candidate.
The Vice-Presidential election is conducted indirectly through an electoral college consisting of both elected and nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Members of state legislative assemblies do not participate in this election. Voting is done via secret ballot, using a single transferable vote system of proportional representation. Members of the electoral college are not bound by party whips. To be eligible for the Vice-Presidential post, a candidate must be an Indian citizen, at least 35 years old, qualified for election to the Rajya Sabha, and must not hold any office of profit. A nomination paper needs to be supported by at least 20 electors as proposers and another 20 as seconders.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the polling for the Vice-Presidential election will be held on September 9, with the vote count also scheduled for the same day. The deadline for filing nominations is August 21, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 25. The Vice-Presidential post became vacant following Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation on July 21, citing health concerns. According to Article 68 of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the Vice President must be held "as soon as possible" after it becomes vacant.
