Overview

• Maharashtra governor C.P. Radhakrishnan reached Delhi, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA leaders, and is expected to file his nomination around August 20–21.
• Defence minister Rajnath Singh has sought wider backing, calling M.K. Stalin and Naveen Patnaik and securing support from Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP, while JD(U) and TDP have also signalled support.
• INDIA bloc parties scheduled a virtual meeting to decide whether to field a joint candidate, with reactions ranging from Congress’s criticism over RSS links to Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders offering courteous remarks.
• The vice-presidential vote is set for September 9, nominations close on August 21, and the NDA’s majority in the electoral college positions Radhakrishnan as the frontrunner.
• A two-term former MP from Coimbatore with long RSS and Jan Sangh ties and current gubernatorial experience in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, Radhakrishnan is viewed by the BJP as strengthening its Tamil Nadu outreach.