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Endorsement of Southern Representation

On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his support for the NDA's choice of Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate for Vice President. Shah emphasized that it is fitting for the position to be held by someone from South India, given that the President is from the East and the Prime Minister represents the West and North. He shared these insights during an interview.

When questioned about the rationale behind selecting Radhakrishnan, a lifelong RSS member, Shah refuted claims that this decision was aimed at gaining favor in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. He stated, 'We have previously contested elections in Tamil Nadu with allies and have secured seats. Any candidate from any region would attract similar questions.'

Shah praised Radhakrishnan's extensive political career, noting his two terms as a Member of Parliament and his previous roles as the Governor of Jharkhand, Telangana, Puducherry, and Maharashtra. He highlighted Radhakrishnan's integrity and political maturity.

Addressing concerns regarding Radhakrishnan's RSS affiliation, Shah remarked that such connections should not be viewed negatively. He pointed out that both Prime Minister Modi and he himself have ties to the RSS, questioning whether these associations detract from their electability. He mentioned that past leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani also had RSS backgrounds.

Shah's comments come amid opposition claims that the Vice Presidential election is an ideological contest. On August 20, CP Radhakrishnan submitted his nomination papers for the Vice Presidential race, accompanied by Prime Minister Modi and several Union Ministers.

Radhakrishnan, who has been the Maharashtra Governor since July 31, 2024, previously served as the Governor of Jharkhand and Telangana and as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Born on October 20, 1957, in Tirrupur, Tamil Nadu, he has a background in Business Administration and became involved with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1974, prior to joining the RSS. The Vice Presidential election is set for September 9, with results to be announced on the same day.