‘Not Aligned With Our Ideology’: Sharad Pawar Refuses To Support NDA’s Vice-President Nominee

Last Updated:August 22, 2025, 16:48 IST

Sharad Pawar declined Devendra Fadnavis' request to support NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan for vice president, citing ideological differences.

Fadnavis Seeks Support Of Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar For CP Radhakrishnan (FILE)

ist Congress Party (SCP) President Sharad Pawar on Friday said that he declined Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ request for support to the NDA’s vice-presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan, saying that the latter is not aligned with his ideology.

Fadnavis on Thursday reached out to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Pawar to seek their support for the BJP-led NDA’s nominee for the vice presidential elections, CP Radhakrishnan, saying that parties that speak of ‘Maharashtra Asmita’ to walk the talk by backing the NDA candidate, who is not only the state’s governor but also a registered voter from Mumbai.

What Sharad Pawar Said?

While speaking to reporters in Mumbai, the veteran leader said that he expressed his inability to back Radhakrishnan. He added that they know their strength in terms of votes, but still they do not find it appropriate to support a person like Radhakrishnan.

“Opposition candidate B Sudarshan Reddy has already filed his nomination. Even though we have fewer numbers than the NDA, we are not worried. All Opposition votes will go to Reddy. It knows its strength. We’re not expecting any surprises," he said.

He further blamed Radhakrishnan for Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s arrest last year. Pawar said Radhakrishnan was the Jharkhand governor when Soren was arrested as he went to meet him.

“The NDA candidate is not aligned with our ideology. When he was the Jharkhand governor, a case was filed against CM Hemant Soren. When Soren went to meet the governor, he was arrested at Raj Bhavan," he said.

“It was a glaring example of the misuse of power, and it is not appropriate to expect support for such a candidate. Therefore, I expressed my inability to accept the chief minister’s request," Pawar added.

What’s Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Stance?

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had said that besides Fadnavis, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also called Thackeray, urging him to extend support to the NDA pick.

Raut said that Radhakrishnan had not been given the candidature for being a representative of Maharashtra.

“The CM has been calling all the party leaders. He has not called only the Shiv Sena (UBT). Our stand is clear. We are INDIA bloc," he told The Hindu.

The NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) are part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra along with the Congress. The three parties are constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc at the national level.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), voting for the key election will be held on September 9. Despite having the numbers to win the poll comfortably, the BJP is reaching out to opposition parties to ensure an unopposed election.

(With inputs from agencies)

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