The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Vice Presidential candidate, Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, filed his nomination on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Union ministers, showcasing a strong display of unity ahead of the September 9 election.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President JP Nadda, Union Health Minister, and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari were among the key leaders accompanying Mr. Radhakrishnan, who currently serves as the Governor of Maharashtra, to file his papers before the returning officer. Sources confirmed that four sets of nomination papers were submitted, with PM Modi as the chief proposer on the first set.

Before filing his nomination, Radhakrishnan visited Prerna Sthal in the Parliament complex to pay tribute to iconic personalities, beginning with Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. His selection as the NDA candidate was announced on Sunday by BJP President JP Nadda following the party’s Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi.

A veteran BJP leader, CP Radhakrishnan has served as Governor of Jharkhand and Telangana, and previously represented Coimbatore twice in the Lok Sabha. He also held the position of BJP Tamil Nadu State President. Praising his decades-long service, Prime Minister Modi highlighted his “dedication, humility, and intellect,” especially his grassroots work in Tamil Nadu. On Tuesday, Radhakrishnan was felicitated during the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting.

With the BJP-led NDA holding a clear majority in the electoral college comprising MPs from both Houses, Radhakrishnan’s victory is considered a near certainty.