On Whip Vote Support to NDA, Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar Send a Strong Message to BJP!

by Webdesk
22 Aug 2025

Source: NDTV

Fadnavis Seeks Thackeray, Pawar’s Backing for NDA Vice-Presidential Nominee

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has begun reaching out to key opposition leaders in the state to drum up support for the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) vice-presidential candidate, C. P. Radhakrishnan. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader confirmed on Friday that he personally spoke with Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) president Uddhav Thackeray, urging them to extend support in the upcoming election for the country’s second-highest constitutional office.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Fadnavis revealed that while Mr. Pawar has already committed his backing to the candidate fielded by the opposition alliance, Mr. Thackeray has not yet made his position clear. “I requested both leaders to support the candidature of Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan in the vice-presidential poll. Uddhav ji told me that he would discuss the matter with his colleagues and revert, while Sharad Pawar ji conveyed that he is bound to support the opposition’s nominee,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

Reaching Out Ahead of the Crucial Vote

According to sources, the Chief Minister had initiated these conversations on Thursday. His outreach comes at a time when the NDA has formally declared Mr. Radhakrishnan, currently the Governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the vice-presidential election scheduled on September 9. The opposition INDIA bloc, on the other hand, has nominated former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy as its pick for the prestigious post.

In his telephonic discussions with both Mr. Pawar and Mr. Thackeray, Mr. Fadnavis is understood to have emphasized Mr. Radhakrishnan’s long association with Maharashtra. He reportedly highlighted that the NDA nominee is a registered voter from the state and urged the opposition leaders to rise above political divides in order to support someone with such a direct connection to Maharashtra.

Mixed Responses from the Opposition Camp

While Sharad Pawar firmly conveyed that the NCP (SP) will remain aligned with the opposition’s choice, Uddhav Thackeray’s stance remained somewhat ambiguous. Mr. Thackeray reportedly told the Chief Minister that he would consult his party leaders before taking a final call. This has created speculation within Maharashtra’s political circles about whether the Shiv Sena (UBT) might keep its options open until closer to polling day.

The NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) are partners in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, which also includes the Congress. At the national level, these three parties are part of the broader opposition INDIA bloc, which has consistently attempted to present a united front against the BJP-led NDA.

Wider Efforts by the NDA

Mr. Fadnavis is not the only senior NDA leader reaching out to opposition parties for support. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut disclosed earlier that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also called Uddhav Thackeray to personally request his backing for Mr. Radhakrishnan. These multiple outreach attempts signal how seriously the NDA is taking this election, despite its numerical advantage in Parliament.

The vice-presidential poll is conducted by an electoral college that comprises all elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament – the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Shiv Sena (UBT) currently has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha, while the NCP (SP) commands 10 Lok Sabha MPs and two Rajya Sabha members. Given this strength, the support of these parties, though limited in numbers compared to the NDA’s tally, still holds symbolic value in showcasing cross-party consensus.

The upcoming election on September 9 is not just about choosing the Vice President but also about testing political alignments in the lead-up to the 2029 general elections. For the NDA, ensuring unanimous or wide-ranging support for Mr. Radhakrishnan could reinforce its image of inclusivity and strengthen its ties with regional forces. For the opposition, however, maintaining unity behind Justice Sudarshan Reddy is equally important to project solidarity within the INDIA bloc.

For now, Sharad Pawar has made his position clear by siding with the opposition’s nominee, while Uddhav Thackeray continues to weigh his options. Whether Mr. Thackeray ultimately decides to stand with his MVA and INDIA bloc partners or take a different path will be closely watched in Maharashtra’s political landscape over the coming days.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

On Whip Vote Support to NDA, Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar Send a Strong Message to BJP!

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