Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has been nominated as the Vice President from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Radhakrishnan reached Delhi on Monday (August 17) in the evening where Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present to welcome him. Radhakrishnan also met PM Modi. After the vacancy of the post of Vice President, big speculations were being made who will be the NDA candidate. After the Parliamentary Board meeting, when the name of CP Radhakrishnan was announced, it became clear that it is part of a well-planned strategy of BJP.
It consists of electoral mathematics and deep regional strategy. The name of CP Radhakrishnan’s name is not just a reward of his association with the Sangh and Jana Sangh. Rather it is a sign of BJP’s new effort to increase its penetration in Tamil Nadu and Southern states. The rally knows that the BJP has to struggle a lot to make its hold ahead of Karnataka.
Connection with Sangh, Radhakrishnan fit in BJP grooves
One of the reasons for choosing Radhakrishnan is his political background. In fact, he was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for a long time. The BJP has also indicated the Sangh by furthering them. There have been many occasions in the last few months when there were reports of rift in the Sangh and BJP. The BJP knows that the organization of the Sangh is still very important for expansion in the south. In such a situation, this candidature can also satisfy the union. Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has a political background of socialist and Congress.
He later became BJP. While Radhakrishnan is the leader of the BJP’s ideological, the leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Radhakrishnan has been associated with RSS and Jana Sangh since the age of 17. Reverse to Jagdeep Dhankhar, there is no political burden on Radhakrishnan. He is seen more as a possible candidate who has a consensus. The special thing is that now the Sangh and the BJP high command have become convinced that it will be good only if your cadre is appointed in such places.
Tamil Nadu assembly elections But BJP’s eye
It is a dream of many years for BJP to further strengthen its presence in Tamil Nadu. The party has definitely improved. The organization has also stood up. But there is still no support as expected. Except Karnataka, the BJP has not yet been able to set its foot in the states of South India. Assembly elections are due in Tamil Nadu after about one and a half years. Many opposition parties will not be able to oppose the name of CP Radhakrishnan. 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha electionsThe DMK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu performed brilliantly.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP performed better in some seats in Tamil Nadu. But it was much lower than the DMK and AIADMK. If we talk about the vote share, the BJP got 11.24 percent of the votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while the DMK got 26.93% and AIADMK got 20.46% votes.
The ruling DMK won 22 seats in Tamil Nadu. While the BJP’s account was also not open. Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, DMK got 33.2%, AIADMK got 18.7 votes. While BJP got 3.7 percent votes. Overall, the BJP’s vote percentage increased by about 8 percent in 2024. So BJP has high expectations from next year’s assembly elections.
BJP’s OBC card-DMK
The biggest question before DMK with 32 MPs and largest party in Tamil Nadu will be whether it should support the candidate coming from his state or not? Especially at a time when elections are going to be held in Tamil Nadu next year. If Radhakrishnan is elected, he will become the third leader of Tamil Nadu to become Vice President.
The BJP has played a big bet by forward CP Radhakrishnan. Radhakrishnan comes from the Gowter (Kongo Vellalar) community. It is considered an important vote bank of Tamil Nadu politics. This vote bank proves more decisive in the western belt of the state. In such a situation, this OBC card can increase the difficulties of DMK. The DMK does not want to spill his vote bank by not voting for the Tamil Nadu candidate from above.
‘India’ alliance is difficult
The stake of CP Radhakrishnan’s vice -presidential candidate may lead to a rift in the ‘India’ alliance. The biggest threat here is about DMK, which has a total of 32 MPs. Actually, a few years ago, a DMK leader had said about Radhakrishnan that he is a good person. But he has chosen the party wrong.
Some other DMK leaders have also preferred Radhakrishnan privately. In such a situation, it will not be easy for DMK to oppose them. If this happens, there may be a rift in the opposition. That is why DMK has started trying to make a leader of Tamil Nadu a candidate for India alliance. On the other hand, Mamta Banerjee’s TMC has increased the difficulties of the Congress high command by indicating a non -political person to make a candidate.
What will DMK do now?
What will be the attitude of Tamil Nadu’s DMK CP Radhakrishnan? There are many such examples in history. When there is a rift in the opposition over the names of the President and Vice Presidential candidates. DMK spokesperson TKS Alangovan also described the candidate selected by the NDA for the post of Vice President. However, she said that the DMK is part of the opposition alliance and it would follow the coalition’s decision.
Earlier, when the UPA nominated Pratibha Patil for the presidency, the Shiv Sena supported her despite being a part of the NDA, as she was from Maharashtra. Similarly, when the UPA nominated Pranab Mukherjee, both Shiv Sena and JDU gave their support despite being in the NDA. Just when the NDA proposed the name of Ramnath Kovind, JDU supported him despite being in opposition, as he was the Governor of Bihar.
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Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has talked to several leaders of Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Samat opposition leaders and sought support for the NDA candidate. PM Modi will introduce VP candidate CP Radhakrishnan to all MPs at the meeting of NDA Parliamentary Party on Tuesday. NDA is ahead in the game of numbers. But still NDA leaders are leaving no stone unturned. All NDA Chief Minister 21 will be present with top BJP leaders during Radhakrishnan’s nomination.