Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 18 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Annamalai on Monday called the INDIA bloc parties to 'rise above partisan divides,' and support the candidature of NDA's Vice President nominee CP Radhakrishnan.
In a post on X, Annamalai emphasised that Tamil Nadu has a proud legacy of producing towering statesmen who have adorned the highest constitutional offices in the country.
"Tamil Nadu was once honoured with Thiru Sarvepalli Radha Krishnan avl becoming the first Vice President of our nation after its independence. Later in 1984, another stalwart from Tamil Nadu, Thiru R Venkatraman avl was elected to the prestigious chair of Vice President. Both these Vice Presidents later went on to become the President of our Nation. The NDA Government, at the dawn of this century, nominated India's missile man and Tamil Nadu's pride, Thiru APJ Abdul Kalam, for the chair of the President," he said.
Annamalai stressed that the INDIA bloc extending its support to Radhakrishnan would be a true honour to the son of Tamil Nadu.
"At this juncture, I appeal to all parties in Tamil Nadu, especially the parties in the I.N.D.I. Alliance: DMK, Congress, CPI, CPIM, VCK, IUML, KMDK and MDMK, with their members in the Parliament, to rise above partisan divides. In the spirit of statesmanship, they must recognise the candidacy of Thiru C.P. Radhakrishnan and extend their support. That gesture would be a true honour to the son of our soil - Thiru. C P Radhakrishnan avl," the BJP leader said.
"This election is not merely about politics; it is also about honouring Tamil Nadu's enduring contribution to the leadership of our great nation," he said.
Both the TDP and JD(U), alliance partners of the BJP, have backed the candidacy of Radhakrishnan. 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.
As per Article 66(1) of the Constitution of India, the election of the Vice President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
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.