Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 18 : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan on Monday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for being confused since the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankar, saying that the party is "searching for their former Vice President."
The DMK leader suggested that the BJP is showing desperation with the announcement of Maharashtra Governor and "RSS man" CP Radhakrishnan as their candidate for the Vice President's post.
"He is an RSS man, a BJP candidate. Should be viewed politically, not just by language. This is a post for VP. We (Tamilians) already have had two presidents, R Venkatraman, and Abdul Kalam, who were presidents of India, so we have seen presidents," Elangovan told ANI.
"Now they are posing an RSS man, and I don't know why the poor man (CP Radhakrishnan) has accepted it. They are searching for the former Vice President, who had resigned from his post earlier; they don't know where he is now. That situation should not come to CP Radhakrishnan," he said.
The DMK leader also mentioned that the VP pick should be looked at through the lens of politics instead of language, criticising the BJP-led Centre for "insulting Tamilians" and stopping funds for schemes.
"It is political, the BJP is not working for Tamilians, they are insulting Tamilians. They do not give money to Tamil Nadu students," he said.
Earlier today, Congress leader Manickam Tagore criticised the nomination, saying that Radhakrishnan is "another RSS man." He further highlighted that, after the Prime Minister and Speaker, yet another key institution is facing a battle to be protected.
INDIA bloc leaders are set to meet today to discuss a potential candidate from the opposition for the VP post, too.
Radhakrishnan is currently serving as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra, a post he assumed on July 31, 2024. The post of Vice President fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, citing health reasons.
According to sources, the Vice Presidential election, scheduled for September 9, will be held under the supervision of Rajnath Singh on behalf of the NDA.
On Sunday, the NDA named Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate.
BJP National President JP Nadda announced after the party's Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi.BJP President Nadda said that the party would reach out to the Opposition to ensure a consensus and possibly an unopposed election.