CP Radhakrishnan, NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor, elected 15th Vice President of India
PTC Web Desk: CP Radhakrishnan has been elected as India’s 15th Vice President, securing a victory over INDIA alliance candidate Sudarshan Reddy by a margin of 152 votes. NDA candidate Radhakrishnan received 452 first-preference votes, while Sudarshan Reddy managed 300 votes.
The Congress had earlier claimed that all 315 of its MPs voted for the INDIA candidate, but the alliance ended up 15 votes short. Notably, BRS and BJD chose not to participate in the election; their representation in the Rajya Sabha includes four BRS MPs and seven BJD MPs. Additionally, the lone MP from the Shiromani Akali Dal in the Lok Sabha abstained from voting, citing ongoing floods in Punjab as the reason.
Radhakrishnan’s election comes after the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, citing health reasons. Dhankhar’s term was originally set to continue until August 10, 2027.
CP Radhakrishnan: Political Profile
CP Radhakrishnan’s political journey began in his teenage years. Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, western Tamil Nadu, he joined the RSS at 16 and steadily rose through the ranks of the BJP.
He won the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat in both 1998 and 1999 with record margins, the highest in the state at the time, establishing his credibility in western Tamil Nadu—a region traditionally challenging for the BJP. Radhakrishnan later served as Tamil Nadu BJP president from 2004 to 2007 and became a member of the party’s National Executive.
In February 2023, he was appointed Governor of Jharkhand and was transferred to Maharashtra in February 2024. Colleagues describe him as deeply rooted in the Sangh Parivar ideology yet pragmatic in approach. Known for his straightforward demeanor and relatively clean image, he stands out in a political environment often clouded by rivalry and controversy.
Radhakrishnan has not avoided confrontations. As Jharkhand Governor in 2023, he publicly criticised Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks against Sanatan Dharma, warning that attempts to undermine Hindu traditions would fail.
Key facts about CP Radhakrishnan
Belonging to the influential Gounder caste (OBC) of Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He has been associated with the RSS and served on the Bharatiya Jana Sangh’s State Executive Committee. Elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999, he was later BJP Tamil Nadu president (2004–2007). Sworn in as Maharashtra Governor on July 31, 2024, he earlier served as Jharkhand Governor for over a year, during which he occasionally clashed with the state government.
His nomination as Vice President was supported by BJP leaders due to his affable nature and previous near-misses for Union Cabinet positions in 2000 (Atal Bihari Vajpayee government) and 2014 (Narendra Modi government).
Apart from politics, Radhakrishnan was an accomplished athlete in college, excelling in table tennis and long-distance running.
- With inputs from agencies
