NDA candidate Radhakrishan files nomination papers for V-P poll, PM chief proposer

Setting the stage for the September 9 Vice-Presidential election, Maharashtra Governor and NDA candidate, C P Radhakrishnan, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for India’s second highest constitutional office.

After paying tributes at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament House complex, Radhakrishnan was accompanied to the new Parliament House by senior BJP ministers and NDA partners.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the delegation of the ruling coalition leaders to back the nomination of Radhakrishnan, who filed his papers in the office of the returning officer for the V-P poll PC Mody, Secretary General of Rajya Sabha.

Four sets of papers were filed, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the chief proposal in the first set of nominations.

All leaders of NDA parties were present at the time of filing of the nomination.

M Thambi Durai, leader of the AIADMK, a non-aligned party also joined the delegation.

The Opposition candidate for Vice-Presidential election, B Sudarshan Reddy, will also arrive in the Parliament House complex on Wednesday to meet the MPs of all Opposition parties. He will file his nomination papers on Thursday.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition stalwarts will gather in the Central Hall of old Parliament building to meet Reddy on Wednesday.

The Vice-Presidential election has turned out to be a contest between candidates from South India.

While C P Radhakrishnan is a Tamil Nadu-born RSS leader who rose through the ranks of Sangh Parivar to become Maharashtra Governor, Sudarshan Reddy is an Andhra Pradesh-born jurist best known for heading the independent expert committee that described the Congress-led Telangana government's caste survey to enlist OBC as scientific.