PM Modi appeals for unanimous election of Radhakrishnan as Vice-President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday felicitated C P Radhakrishnan, Maharashtra Governor and the Vice-Presidential election candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at a meeting of the coalition's Parliamentary Party held in the Parliament House complex here.

Floor leaders of all NDA alliance partners, along with BJP MPs and those from other NDA constituents, attended the meeting held ahead of the September 9 election for the country’s second-highest constitutional office.

PM Modi introduced Radhakrishnan, highlighting his life dedicated to social service, and appealed to leaders and members of all parties to rise above partisan lines to unanimously elect the 15th Vice-President of the country.

Also present at the meeting were senior ministers of the ruling coalition, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh—who is reaching out to all parties to build consensus around Radhakrishnan’s candidature—Home Minister Amit Shah, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, and BJP president J P Nadda.

NDA leaders also felicitated C P Radhakrishnan at the meeting with all partners, pledging full support to elect him.

Radhakrishnan will file his nomination on Wednesday.

The electoral college for the election of the Vice-President, which consists of sitting MPs of both the Houses is comfortably tilted in favour of the ruling coalition.

With YSRCP becoming the first non-aligned party to offer support to the ruling coalition nominee C P Radhakrishnan, his election prospects have grown even brighter.

After the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the NDA candidate for the Vice-Presidential election C P Radhakrishnan was introduced in the meeting.

“The floor leaders, MPs of the NDA, warmly welcomed C P Radhakrishnan, congratulated him and thanked the Prime Minister. His introduction was given by Prime Minister Modi in the meeting of the NDA Parliamentary Party. Along with the introduction, PM Modi urged all parties and MPs to come together and unanimously support Radhskrishnan, the candidate finalised by the NDA for the Vice-Presidential election.

“C P Radhakrishnan is a very good name for the post of Vice-President. Everyone has accepted this. He is non-controversial, has never faced any corruption charge, has lived a very simple life and has only worked for the society and the country.

“If such a person becomes the Vice-President of the country, it will be a matter of great happiness for the country... Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also talking to everyone and we want that we all together support C P Radhakrishnan unanimously in the election of the Vice-President and it will be very useful for our democracy, for our country and also in running the Rajya Sabha,” said Rijiju.