New Delhi, August 17 (HS): In a high-level meeting at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in the Indian capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the party’s parliamentary board session to finalise the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) nominee for the Vice President of India.

After prolonged deliberations among senior party leaders—including BJP president J.P. Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal—the board unanimously resolved to field C.P. Radhakrishnan, the current Governor of Maharashtra, as the alliance’s official candidate.

Radhakrishnan, born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, has long been regarded as a seasoned political leader with extensive organisational experience within the BJP and a reputation for his grassroots connect. His nomination signals the party’s strategy to maintain a balance of seniority, regional representation, and political continuity at the top levels of government.

The meeting at the headquarters was also punctuated by a lighter moment as Prime Minister Modi, upon his arrival, greeted reporters with “Jai Shri Krishna” and inquired warmly whether they had observed the Janmashtami celebrations the previous day.

Meanwhile, in Odisha, political circles were abuzz with concern after BJD supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was hospitalised due to age-related health complications. His condition is being closely monitored, and the development has sparked a wave of support messages across the state.

With the Vice Presidential election looming, the BJP’s announcement sets the stage for yet another key political contest, while reinforcing the NDA’s confidence in its arithmetic and organisational command.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar