In Indian politics, silence often speaks louder than words. But this Sunday, the BJP-led NDA ended that silence by naming Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its official candidate for Vice President.
Prime Minister Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda sat across the parliamentary table, and after what was described as “extensive deliberation”, picked the man from Tamil Nadu who once beat the odds, both as a sportsperson and a politician.
Who is CP Radhakrishnan?
Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. He holds a degree in Business Administration. He is a former RSS pracharak, a two-time Lok Sabha MP, and an OBC face of the BJP, belonging to the influential Gounder community. In the BJP’s diversity calendar, Radhakrishnan is a reminder of the party’s southern arithmetic and caste consciousness.
He served as the Governor of Jharkhand before taking charge in Maharashtra in July 2024. Now, within months, his political elevation hints at more than just a nomination—it signals a carefully curated message. In Modi’s words, he is a leader of humility, intellect, and deep commitment to the marginalised.
But behind the elevation lies another resignation—one shrouded in mystery.
What happened to Jagdeep Dhankhar?
The sitting Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, resigned suddenly on July 21, citing health reasons. But since then, his absence has spoken louder than his career. Not only did he skip the Sainik School Chittorgarh event—where a stadium was named in his honour—he has also refrained from public appearances and even meeting extended family members. Political analysts whisper about internal pressure and unspoken reasons. The government, however, maintains radio silence.
Let’s not forget, hours before resigning, Dhankhar was chairing a Business Advisory Committee meeting in Rajya Sabha—handling the sensitive impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma. Sources say he was active till 7:30 p.m., but post an unscheduled meeting with the President, the resignation came at 9 p.m.
Strangely, even his secretarial staff did not inform the school about his withdrawal from the event.
A Pattern or a Puzzle?
While one man exits the corridors of power without a goodbye, another prepares to enter them with full honours. Radhakrishnan’s elevation ticks many boxes for the BJP—OBC representation, southern outreach, a clean image. But for the democratic public, one question remains: Why the silence around the outgoing Vice President?
As the Vice Presidential election approaches on September 9, one thing is certain—the office may be constitutional, but the politics is always personal.
