Vice President Election: From serving because the BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief to holding the governorship of Maharashtra and now being chosen for one of many highest constitutional places of work within the nation, Radhakrishnan’s profession displays resilience, loyalty, and many years of devoted political service.
CP Radhakrishnan, the Nationwide Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) Vice-Presidential candidate, belongs to the OBC Gounder group, particularly the Kongu Vellalar sub-caste, which has a dominant presence in western Tamil Nadu- an space broadly referred to as the Kongu area. Historically related to agriculture, this group performs a decisive function in shaping electoral outcomes within the area.
Shared identification with key leaders
Each the Bharatiya Janata Celebration’s (BJP) Tamil Nadu face, Okay Annamalai, and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief Edappadi Okay Palaniswami (EPS) additionally hail from the Gounder background. This shared caste identification has important electoral weight, and Radhakrishnan’s elevation is seen as a transfer to consolidate the Gounder vote base.
The main strategic impression
For the NDA, Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan’s nomination serves two functions simultaneously-
- Reinforcing the alliance with AIADMK by recognising the political affect of the Kongu Gounder group.
- Rebuilding connections with disillusioned cadres and voters in western Tamil Nadu, making certain the occasion enters the 2026 meeting elections with out alienating one of many state’s most influential OBC teams.
Harm management after management change
When the BJP changed Annamalai as state president earlier this 12 months, reportedly beneath stress from the AIADMK whereas negotiating an alliance, there was disquiet inside the Gounder voter base. Analysts famous that this shift risked alienating a sizeable portion of the Kongu Vellalar group. By nominating Radhakrishnan to the second-highest constitutional workplace, the NDA is trying a damage-control train, reassuring the group of its relevance inside the occasion’s broader political narrative.
Symbolism earlier than the 2026 elections
With Tamil Nadu scheduled to carry Meeting elections in 2026, this nomination demonstrates the NDA’s sensitivity to regional caste equations. It indicators to voters within the Kongu belt that the BJP values their illustration not simply domestically, but additionally on the nationwide degree.
Lengthy affiliation with the RSS
One other issue that strengthens Radhakrishnan’s candidacy is his ideological anchoring. Related to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the reason that age of 16, he’s seen as each a grassroots consultant and a loyal organisational man, balancing caste enchantment with ideological credibility.
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