JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<input type="radio" name="cols" id="col-1" /><br />
<input type="radio" name="cols" id="col-2" /><br />
<input type="radio" name="cols" id="col-3" />

<br /><br />
<a class="a1" href="#">Select second radio</a>
<a class="a2" href="#">Select second radio</a>

JavaScript

var newcol = 'col-2';
var newcol1 = 'col-1';

$('.a1').on('click', function () {
    $('#' + newcol).prop('checked',true);
    return false;
});

$('.a2').on('click', function () {
    $('#' + newcol1).prop('checked',true);
    return false;
});