Overview

• The BJP’s parliamentary board cleared Radhakrishnan’s name and the NDA formally announced him as its vice-presidential candidate.
• He is slated to file nomination papers in Delhi at 11 am on August 20 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi present and NDA MPs accompanying.
• Allied parties publicly backed the choice, with leaders from LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM(S) and Shiv Sena voicing support as Kiren Rijiju urged cross-party backing.
• INDIA bloc leaders scheduled a Delhi meeting to decide a single challenger, with names such as Mylswamy Annadurai, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva and Tushar Gandhi reported to be under discussion.
• Radhakrishnan arrived in the capital to a party reception and met the prime minister; the Maharashtra governor is a two-term Coimbatore MP and former Tamil Nadu BJP chief with RSS roots.