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Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rajnath reaches out to DMK, TMC, BJD for consensus on VP nominee
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh attempted Monday to garner broader support for NDA vice-presidential candidate C P Radhakrishnan, speaking to Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin over the phone, and to former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik (BJD), to seek their support for a consensus. Singh also called up former Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy whose YSRCP, with 11 MPs, has pledged to back the NDA candidate. He had earlier, it is understood, reached out to Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (TMC). In Mumbai, CM Devendra Fadnavis appealed to state "regional parties, in particular Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP", to vote for Radhakrishnan. Shiv Sena has six LS MPs and the NCP (SP) group has 10. Both parties are part of INDIA bloc. "Not only is he governor of Maharashtra, he is also a voter from the state. He may originally be from Tamil Nadu but he is a voter from Mumbai and has voted in the last assembly election. While filing his nomination he will be mentioning that he is a voter from Mumbai," said Fadnavis, asking "Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar, for whom Marathi asmita is important, to forget party differences" on this issue. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, meanwhile, said while the party welcomed Radhakrishnan's nomination since he was Maharashtra governor, it would go by the INDIA bloc's collective decision. However, Raut pointed out that his party chief, Uddhav Thackeray, was of the view that such constitutional posts should not be politicised and any nominee should be elected unopposed. Since the INDIA bloc doesn't have the numbers to win the VP polls, Raut said, attention shouldn't be diverted from core issues like 'vote chori', voter list manipulation and SIR in Bihar by having a contest in VP polls. He indicated that a contest for VP may not be worth the fight. C P Radhakrishnan, who is Maharashtra's governor, called on PM Modi and other BJP functionaries Monday, ahead of his interaction with NDA floor leaders later in the day. A day after his candidacy was announced, Radhakrishnan arrived in Delhi and was received by Union ministers Pralhad Joshi & Kiren Rijiju. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "Met Thiru CP Radhakrishnan ji. Conveyed my best wishes on his being the NDA's VP nominee. His long years of public service and experience across domains will greatly enrich our nation. May he continue to serve with the same dedication and resolve he has always demonstrated (sic)." Later that day, Radhakrishnan, whose election is considered a formality due to NDA's majority, was felicitated by NDA floor leaders at the residence of Pralhad Joshi, where he will stay until the poll. He is also expected to attend the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday. Radhakrishnan is likely to file his nomination papers Wednesday in the presence of top NDA leaders, including CMs from states governed by the alliance. BJP congratulated Radhakrishnan on his nomination and thanked PM Modi for selecting a candidate from the OBC category. The Vice-Presidential election is scheduled for Sept 9. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar welcomed BJP's decision and said JD(U) would support Radhakrishnan. TDP's Nara Lokesh also extended his party's support to Radhakrishnan.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Vice-presidential election: DMK in a bind as TN parties pitch for 'son of the soil'
NDA VP candidate CP Radhakrishnan with Tamil Nadu CM and DMK chief MK Stalin CHENNAI: NDA's decision to field C P Radhakrishnan as its vice-presidential candidate has put DMK in a political bind. To reject a candidate from Tamil Nadu could be portrayed as disregarding Tamil pride, a line rivals are expected to play up in the 2026 campaign. Yet, extending support to a BJP-backed nominee would go against DMK's long-standing political positioning against the Centre. On Monday, pressure mounted on DMK to back CPR. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the nomination of CPR was an opportunity for TN to send someone from the state to the vice-president's office. "A Tamilian has got an opportunity to become a VP. So all MPs from TN should support it, shedding political differences,'' EPS told reporters at Tiruvannamalai. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran, for his part, said he would meet chief minister M K Stalin seeking support for CPR. "It would not be fair to stay away when there was an opportunity for a Tamilian to reach new heights," he said. Tamil Maanila Congress president GK Vasan also joined the chorus, calling Radhakrishnan "a son of the soil, admired by all beyond political affiliations" and "a great honour for Tamils." While DMK was yet to make an announcement, its allies said there was no room for apprehension just because CPR was a Tamilian. "Even if BJP announced a presidential candidate from TN, people here will not support them,'' said TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai. CPM state secretary P Shanmugham said CPR's nomination would in no way benefit TN. "Tamils have already held posts of vice-president and President. So, there is nothing new here,'' he said. Shanmugam added that BJP candidates would ultimately act on the party's directions rather than independently. A senior DMK neta said an announcement on the party's position would be made soon.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
NDA seeks Opposition support to build consensus on VP nominee CP Radhakrishnan
Synopsis NDA's vice-presidential nominee, CP Radhakrishnan, arrived in Delhi and met with PM Modi and other alliance leaders. Modi conveyed his best wishes, recognizing Radhakrishnan's extensive public service. While his victory is assured, efforts are underway to build consensus, with Rajnath Singh reaching out to opposition leaders like MK Stalin. ANI PM Modi meets NDA VP candidate CP Radhakrishnan in Delhi New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA's vice-presidential nominee CP Radhakrishnan arrived in the national capital on Monday and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of the ruling the meeting, Modi posted on X, "Met Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji. Conveyed my best wishes on his being NDA's vice-presidential nominee. His long years of public service and experience across domains will greatly enrich our nation. May he continue to serve the nation with the same dedication and resolve he has always demonstrated."Although Radhakrishnan's victory is certain due to NDA's numerical strength, the ruling alliance managers have reached out to the Opposition parties to build consensus on his candidature. Senior BJP leader and Union defense minister Rajnath Singh spoke to DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin. Sources said the interaction between the two leaders was cordial. Singh has been entrusted by the BJP leadership to coordinate with key Opposition figures. Earlier in the day, Union ministers, including BJP's Bhupender Yadav, Pralhad Joshi and Kiren Rijiju and TDP's K Ram Mohan Naidu received Radhakrishnan here. Later, the vice-presidential candidate attended a meeting of NDA leaders at Union Minister Prahlad Joshi's residence where he was felicitated. After the meeting, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said Radhakrishnan will file his nomination on August 20, with chief ministers and deputy CMs of several states ruled by BJP and its allies expected to be part of the exercise besides Modi and many of his Cabinet colleagues. NDA received a boost after former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party, one of the few parties not aligned to either of the two rival blocs, backed Radhakrishnan's candidature. The regional party has 11 MPs in Parliament, whose members make up the electoral college for the VP election. Rajnath Singh had spoken to Reddy, sources said. BJP is also eyeing support from two other unaligned regional parties, Odisha's BJD and Telangana's BRS, and some Independents. A source said they are hopeful of getting support from over 440 MPs in an electoral college of 781 members.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NDA seeks Opposition support to build consensus on VP nominee CP Radhakrishnan
NDA's vice-presidential nominee, CP Radhakrishnan, arrived in Delhi and met with PM Modi and other alliance leaders. Modi conveyed his best wishes, recognizing Radhakrishnan's extensive public service. While his victory is assured, efforts are underway to build consensus, with Rajnath Singh reaching out to opposition leaders like MK Stalin. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA 's vice-presidential nominee CP Radhakrishnan arrived in the national capital on Monday and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of the ruling the meeting, Modi posted on X, "Met Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji. Conveyed my best wishes on his being NDA's vice-presidential nominee. His long years of public service and experience across domains will greatly enrich our nation. May he continue to serve the nation with the same dedication and resolve he has always demonstrated."Although Radhakrishnan's victory is certain due to NDA's numerical strength, the ruling alliance managers have reached out to the Opposition parties to build consensus on his BJP leader and Union defense minister Rajnath Singh spoke to DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin. Sources said the interaction between the two leaders was cordial. Singh has been entrusted by the BJP leadership to coordinate with key Opposition in the day, Union ministers, including BJP's Bhupender Yadav, Pralhad Joshi and Kiren Rijiju and TDP's K Ram Mohan Naidu received Radhakrishnan here. Later, the vice-presidential candidate attended a meeting of NDA leaders at Union Minister Prahlad Joshi's residence where he was the meeting, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said Radhakrishnan will file his nomination on August 20, with chief ministers and deputy CMs of several states ruled by BJP and its allies expected to be part of the exercise besides Modi and many of his Cabinet received a boost after former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party , one of the few parties not aligned to either of the two rival blocs, backed Radhakrishnan's candidature. The regional party has 11 MPs in Parliament, whose members make up the electoral college for the VP election. Rajnath Singh had spoken to Reddy, sources is also eyeing support from two other unaligned regional parties, Odisha's BJD and Telangana's BRS, and some Independents. A source said they are hopeful of getting support from over 440 MPs in an electoral college of 781 members.
India Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Chinese Foreign Minister in India, to meet S Jaishankar, Big battle for Vice Presidential polls, more
This episode of Super 6 show details Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's first visit to India in over three years, a significant diplomatic event following the Galwan clash in 2020. The visit, occurring from August 18-20, 2025, aims to rebuild relations and address ongoing border issues, including high-level talks with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for boundary discussions, and Prime Minister Modi. This diplomatic engagement precedes Prime Minister Modi's upcoming trip to China for the SCO summit, scheduled for August 31-September 1, 2025, in Tianjin. The programme also focuses on the upcoming Vice Presidential election, where the NDA has announced C.P. Radhakrishnan, a BJP veteran from Tamil Nadu and current Maharashtra Governor, as its candidate. This selection is viewed as a political signal ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, due in April-May 2026. The BJP defends Radhakrishnan's lifelong association with the RSS, with K. Annamalai stating it is a testament to his nationalism. Conversely, the DMK has labelled the nomination as 'tokenism' and a political move. In response, the INDIA bloc is reportedly considering fielding its own candidate from Tamil Nadu, with veteran leader Tiruchi Siva's name emerging as a top contender, to counter the NDA's strategic choice.
