The BJP’s 180-Degree Turn with CP Radhakrishnan and Jagdeep Dhankhar

After little over two years with Jagdeep Dhankhar, who the opposition views as an incumbent who destroyed the position’s impartiality, the BJP has selected a replacement who is very different. As a well-bred Jan Sangh product, CP Radhakrishnan is viewed as strategic and pan-South Indian, in contrast to Mr. Dhankhar’s outsider, Jat-heavy persona. The leader is perceived as being calm and inclusive, which contrasts sharply with Mr. Dhankhar’s outspoken impatience.

A nod to Jat farmers, Mr. Dhankhar was chosen in 2022 amidst the Jat protests, sending a message that the Jats are a part of the national power structure and are always heard.

Mr. Radhakrishnan’s selection indicates the BJP’s persistent dependence on OBC social engineering and its intentions for southern expansion, an area where the party has struggled to gain traction outside of Karnataka.

Through a recent political outreach to Chief Minister MK Stalin, Mr. Radhakrishnan has quietly supported the Center against the DMK’s harsh criticism. He also criticized Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks about Sanatana dharma, characterizing him as a child. Meanwhile, he has been actively involved in Maharashtra, where he has been petitioned by the opposition to not sign the contentious Public Security Bill. In contrast to Mr. Dhankhar, who was prone to controversial meddling, his contributions were focused on his institutional experience and ideological congruence.

Following his tenure as the Governor of Bengal, when his run-ins with the Mamata Banerjee government frequently made headlines, Mr. Dhankhar—an aggressive lawyer and outspoken politician noted for his harsh, confrontational style—was promoted.

The opposition quickly viewed Mr. Dhankhar as a partisan character after his elevation to the Rajya Sabha was interpreted as the BJP deploying a “tough enforcer” to the body. Additionally, compared to Mr. Dhankhar, Mr. Radhakrishnan has better ideological ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP.

Mr. Dhankhar had no prior affiliation with the RSS and had a background in politics and law. He was viewed less as an ideological insider and more as a practical political choice.

Since he was seventeen years old, Mr. Radhakrishnan has maintained connections with the Jan Sangh and the RSS. In his capacity as Rajya Sabha chairman, Mr. Dhankhar was renowned for his incisive remarks, logical defenses, and combative postures. It made reaching an agreement challenging.

However, a calm demeanor is necessary for the smooth operation of parliament, which is why Mr. Radhakrishnan is thought to be a better fit. He is viewed as a potential consensus candidate and, in contrast to Mr. Dhankhar, has no political baggage. According to reports, Mr. Radhakrishnan expands politics to include the entire country, whereas Mr. Dhankhar is perceived as limiting it to the caste system.

On the first day of this parliament session, Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned just hours after agreeing to the opposition’s plan to remove Justice Yashwant Varma from office without informing the government.