Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, a veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Tamil Nadu, has been named as the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election. This decision comes after Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation last month due to health reasons. Currently serving as the Governor of Maharashtra, Radhakrishnan brings decades of political and administrative experience to the table.

Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan's political journey began early, influenced by his association with organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jan Sangh from the age of 16. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Often called the "Modi of Tamil Nadu," he is considered one of the most respected and senior-most leaders of the BJP from South India.

Radhakrishnan has been a two-time Member of Parliament, representing the Coimbatore constituency. He secured victories in the 1998 and 1999 general elections, demonstrating his strong grassroots support. In the 1998 election, he won by a margin of over 150,000 votes, and in 1999, by a margin of 55,000 votes. During his terms as an MP, he served on several committees, including the Parliamentary Committee for Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) and the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Finance. He was also a member of the Parliamentary Special Committee that investigated the Stock Exchange Scam. Furthermore, he addressed the UN General Assembly as part of a Parliamentary Delegation in 2004 and was part of the first Parliamentary delegation to Taiwan.

From 2004 to 2007, Radhakrishnan served as the state president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. During this period, he undertook a 93-day "Ratha Yatra" (chariot journey) spanning 19,000 km, advocating for the linking of Indian rivers, eradicating untouchability, and campaigning against terrorism. He covered all constituencies in Tamil Nadu during this yatra. In 2012, he was arrested for protesting inaction against culprits who assaulted an RSS activist. In 2014, Radhakrishnan contested the Lok Sabha election from Coimbatore and secured second place, losing by a narrow margin. From 2016 to 2020, he chaired the All India Coir Board. In 2020, he was appointed the BJP Prabhari (In-charge) for Kerala, a position he held until 2022.

Before assuming the role of Governor of Maharashtra on July 31, 2024, Radhakrishnan served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 18, 2023, to July 30, 2024. He also held additional charges as the Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry from March to July/August 2024.

BJP leaders have praised Radhakrishnan's dedication, humility, and intellect, noting his focus on community service and empowering the marginalized. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut described him as a "very good personality, non-controversial" with extensive experience.

The Election Commission of India has announced that the election for the new Vice President will be held on September 9. If elected, Radhakrishnan would succeed Jagdeep Dhankhar.