Pawar Questions Radhakrishnan’s Suitability for VP Role

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) president Sharad Pawar raised serious concerns about the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) vice-presidential nominee, C.P. Radhakrishnan, questioning his ability to uphold the dignity of India’s second-highest constitutional office. Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai on Friday, Pawar referenced the controversial arrest of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren inside Raj Bhavan in 2024, during Radhakrishnan’s tenure as Jharkhand’s governor, as evidence of his disregard for institutional decorum.

“I respect the governor’s office, but I cannot overlook that when Radhakrishnan was Jharkhand’s governor, a tribal chief minister was arrested inside Raj Bhavan, despite his pleas to avoid such an action there,” Pawar said, meeting with the Opposition’s vice-presidential candidate, B. Sudarshan Reddy, at his Mumbai residence. “This reflects his approach to institutional dignity. How can such a person be trusted with the vice president’s chair?”

Radhakrishnan, currently Maharashtra’s governor, was announced as the NDA’s candidate for the vice-presidential election on August 17, following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation on July 21, citing health reasons. The election, set for September 9, has sparked intense debate, with the Opposition framing it as an ideological contest. The NDA, with 422 MPs in the electoral college (293 in Lok Sabha, 129 in Rajya Sabha), holds a comfortable majority over the required 394 votes

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Pawar emphasized the importance of maintaining the vice president’s stature, noting unanswered questions surrounding Dhankhar’s exit. “As a senior parliamentarian, even I am unaware of the reasons for his resignation. The dignity of this office must be upheld by both government and Opposition,” he said, adding that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has sought clarity on Dhankhar’s absence from public life, with no response yet received.

The Opposition’s candidate, B. Sudarshan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, rejected attempts to frame the election as a “South versus South” contest, given both candidates hail from southern states. “This is a contest between individuals, not regions. India is one nation,” Reddy asserted. He highlighted his judicial record of defending common citizens’ rights and expressed gratitude for the Opposition’s unanimous support. “I am not affiliated with any political party, which is perhaps why I was chosen. I will appeal to all MPs, across party lines, to consider my candidacy on merit,” he said, noting plans to write to every parliamentarian.

Pawar revealed that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had personally requested his support for Radhakrishnan, citing his role as Maharashtra’s governor. “I told him ideological differences make it impossible for us to back the NDA candidate,” Pawar said, noting a similar outreach to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Reddy praised Pawar as a “statesman who shaped modern Maharashtra,” crediting his influence on the state’s political, social, and economic landscape over five decades. The Opposition views Reddy’s candidacy as a stand for integrity, contrasting it with Radhakrishnan’s controversial gubernatorial record. Despite the NDA’s numerical advantage, Pawar stressed that the election’s significance lies in upholding constitutional values, not merely in winning.

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