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NEW DELHI<\/strong>: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has nominated veteran BJP leader C.P. Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu as its candidate for the Vice President of India. The decision, made at a Parliamentary Board meeting, marks a significant move for the BJP, which has historically struggled to gain a strong foothold in the southern state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Radhakrishnan, a two-time Member of Parliament and former Governor of Jharkhand and Telangana, has deep roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has been a key figure in the BJP’s growth in Tamil Nadu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Political Roots in RSS and BJP: Radhakrishnan began his public life as an RSS volunteer and was a founding member of the BJP. His consistent work at the grassroots level, particularly in the western ‘Kongu’ belt of Tamil Nadu, has earned him a reputation as a disciplined and dedicated leader. He served as the state president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, a role in which he undertook a significant “Ratha Yatra” to raise awareness on various national issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parliamentary Experience: As a two-time MP from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999, he was instrumental in securing a foothold for the BJP in a region dominated by Dravidian parties. His experience in parliamentary committees and his reputation for intellectual contributions in legislative matters are seen as assets for a person who will preside over the Rajya Sabha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gubernatorial and Administrative Roles: His recent tenures as Governor of Jharkhand and Telangana, and as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, have provided him with vast administrative and constitutional experience. These roles have also helped him maintain a non-controversial profile, which is crucial for a constitutional post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BJP’s Strategic Calculations: Political analysts believe that the choice of a Tamilian for the Vice Presidential post is a masterstroke by the BJP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consolidating a Base in Tamil Nadu: The nomination is a clear attempt to appeal to regional sentiment and consolidate the party’s base in Tamil Nadu, where assembly elections are due next year. By elevating a leader from the state to one of the country’s highest constitutional offices, the BJP is seeking to project itself as a party that respects and gives due importance to leaders from the south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dividing the Opposition: The nomination puts the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Opposition’s INDIA bloc in a difficult position. It is challenging for the DMK, a key component of the INDIA bloc, to oppose a candidate from its own state, especially one who belongs to the influential Gounder community. This could potentially create a rift within the opposition alliance and force a difficult decision on its partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rewarding Loyalty and Experience: The choice also signals the BJP’s practice of rewarding long-serving, loyal party cadres with significant positions. Radhakrishnan’s career trajectory from a grassroots worker to a gubernatorial and now a Vice-Presidential nominee is a testament to this principle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has nominated veteran BJP leader C.P. Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu as its candidate for the Vice President of India. The decision, made at a Parliamentary Board meeting, marks a significant move for the BJP, which has historically struggled to gain a strong foothold in the southern state. Radhakrishnan,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[216,217],"class_list":["post-5952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-cp-radhakrishnan","tag-a-tamilian"],"yoast_head":"\n
C.P. Radhakrishnan’s Political Journey and BJP’s Strategy<\/strong>.
Radhakrishnan’s selection is not merely a reward for his long service but is widely seen as a calculated political strategy by the BJP to further its “Mission South” agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n