The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) nomination of Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) Vice-Presidential candidate has ignited a fierce political debate in Tamil Nadu, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) accusing the BJP of using the nomination as a strategic move to gain electoral advantage ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In contrast, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, has called on all Tamil Nadu MPs to support Radhakrishnan, emphasizing the pride of a Tamilian ascending to the Vice Presidency.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan echoed this sentiment, urging the DMK to back Radhakrishnan and rectify its “historic blunder” of not supporting APJ Abdul Kalam’s presidential candidacy in 2002. She refuted DMK’s claims of neglect, citing central government initiatives like railway infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu.

Other leaders, including Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy and MDMK’s Vaiko, praised Radhakrishnan’s nomination, highlighting his cross-party respect and political acumen.

Elangovan, however, remained steadfast, asserting that the DMK will align with the INDIA bloc’s decision and questioning the BJP’s commitment to Tamil culture, particularly its handling of the Keeladi excavations, which he claims are undervalued by the Centre.

With the Vice-Presidential election set for September 9, 2025, following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation, Radhakrishnan’s candidacy has become a flashpoint, exposing deep political divides and setting the stage for a contentious electoral battle in Tamil Nadu.

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