In an important political move, Union Defence Minister and top BJP leader Rajnath Singh called up Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin himself to request support for a “common Vice-President candidate” in the coming election, trusted sources revealed.
The discussion, which was held prior to the BJP officially nominating Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as its choice, is indicative of the saffron party’s informal attempts at finding greater agreement. According to insiders, though, Stalin did not agree to back the proposal in the telephonic conversation.
C.P. Radhakrishnan’s Tamil Nadu roots
Radhakrishnan and in short, CPR comes from a influential community called Kongu Vellala Gounder, which is west Tamil Nadu and he has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore two times. Observers have commented how CPR’s selection is line with BJP party’s overall strategy to further establish a base in the Dravidian heartland. It is noteworthy that CPR had also visited Stalin on August 11. It was explained as a visit to ask how his health and well being is, but people are now debating whether the august 11 meeting is politically meaningful.
While that, the BJP has intensified its Tamil Nadu mobilization to garner support for CPR. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, state BJP president Nainar Nagenthiran, and former party chief K. Annamalai have all appealed to MPs cutting across party lines to vote for the “Tamil pride” candidate. “Tamil MPs from all parties must vote for CPR for the basic reason that he is a Tamil,” Palaniswami said to reporters.
Tamil Nadu’s long standing political legacy
Annamalai, on the other hand, referred to Tamil Nadu’s history of giving birth to towering constitutional giants like Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, R. Venkataraman, and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to appeal on an emotional level to opposition parties, the DMK and Congress, to transcend political differences.
While the sudden resignation of sitting Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar could have precipitated the rushed nomination exercise, BJP sources concede that Tamil Nadu outreach played an important role in nominating CPR. With September elections on the horizon, the spotlight now lies on Stalin and the DMK to support them—or dig in their heels as per the I.N.D.I.A bloc.
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Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
