NEW DELHI: “We have been friends for over 40 years; back then, our hair was black,” PM Narendra Modi recalled at the felicitation of NDA vice-presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan (CPR) during NDA parliamentary party meeting on Parliament premises on Tuesday.The PM expressed happiness at the enthusiasm among allies for “CPR” and urged opposition to support his candidature.Radhakrishnan is likely to file his nomination papers Wednesday, accompanied by nearly 160 MPs and CMs of NDA-governed states. Twenty proposers and as many supporters are expected to join him when he does so. Sources said the documentation work for his nomination was completed on Tuesday.After felicitating Radhakrishnan with a shawl, Modi praised his simple lifestyle and dedication to public service, noting cryptically, “He might have a lot of interest in sports, but he does not play games in politics”.Like Modi, Radhakrishnan, a two-time former Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore and former Tamil Nadu BJP president, was an RSS functionary before joining Jana Sangh and later BJP.Modi’s remarks on Radhakrishnan’s interest in sports and political integrity reminded political circles of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as vice president on July 21 amid indications of strained ties with the governing party.Modi lauded Radhakrishnan’s 40 years of public service and appealed for his unanimous election. However, opposition later announced the name of former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate, ensuring a vice-presidential election on Sept 9.Modi’s speech covered various issues, including S&P Global Ratings’ recent upgrade of India’s long-term sovereign credit rating, which, he said, highlights the robust condition of the country’s economy and will attract more investment.He said after his Independence Day speech, in which he announced next-generation reforms and GST rate simplification, he was told the stock market will respond positively. Indeed, Sensex has rallied for two consecutive days following the three-day holiday for I-Day and the weekend.Modi, confident of India’s economic outlook despite a 50% tariff imposed by US, highlighted that Delhi international airport is among the world’s busiest and India’s forex reserves remain high.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju told the media that the governing alliance warmly welcomed Radhakrishnan’s introduction by PM Modi at the meeting. “NDA candidate Radhakrishnan was introduced at the meeting,” he said.Hailing Radhakrishnan’s nomination, Rijiju emphasised his clean record: “CPR is an excellent choice for vice president. Everyone has accepted this. There has been no controversy in his life, no corruption, no stain; he has lived a simple life, working only for society and the country. If such a person becomes VP, it will be a matter of great happiness for the nation”.
