The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, the current Governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election. The decision was made at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Parliamentary Board meeting. BJP President J.P. Nadda stated that Radhakrishnan is respected across all sections of society in Tamil Nadu and is considered a statesman. If elected, Radhakrishnan would succeed Jagdeep Dhankhar, who recently resigned from the Vice Presidency citing health reasons. The election is scheduled for September 9, 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded C.P. Radhakrishnan for his dedication, intellect, and grassroots work in Tamil Nadu. In a message posted on X, Modi highlighted Radhakrishnan's focus on community service and empowering the marginalized throughout his public life. He also acknowledged Radhakrishnan's extensive experience as a Member of Parliament and Governor, emphasizing his insightful parliamentary contributions and his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by common citizens during his gubernatorial tenures. Modi expressed confidence that Radhakrishnan's vast knowledge of legislative and constitutional matters would make him an inspiring Vice President.
C.P. Radhakrishnan, born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, has had a long and varied political career spanning over four decades. He began his public life early, joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a Swayamsevak and becoming a State Executive Committee Member of the Bharatiya Janasangh in 1974. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Radhakrishnan's career includes grassroots activism, parliamentary work, and gubernatorial responsibilities.
Radhakrishnan was appointed Secretary of the BJP in Tamil Nadu in 1996. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999. During his parliamentary tenure, he served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Textiles and was a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and the Consultative Committee for Finance. He was also part of the Special Parliamentary Committee that investigated the Stock Exchange Scam. From 2004 to 2007, Radhakrishnan was the President of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. During this time, he undertook a 19,000 km 'Ratha Yatra' for 93 days, advocating for linking India's rivers, eradicating terrorism and untouchability, implementing a uniform civil code, and combating narcotic drugs. He also led two more Padayatras for various causes. In 2016, he became Chairman of the Coir Board, Kochi, where he led India's coir exports to an all-time high. From 2020 to 2022, he was the All-India in-charge of the BJP for Kerala.
Before being appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra on July 31, 2024, Radhakrishnan served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024. He also briefly held additional responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Within four months of assuming office as Governor of Jharkhand, he traveled across all 24 districts of the state, engaging with citizens and officials.
Radhakrishnan has traveled extensively, visiting countries across Europe, Asia, and North America. He is also known for his enthusiasm for sports, having been a college champion in table tennis and a long-distance runner. He also enjoys cricket and volleyball.
