Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan today took oath as the fifteenth Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The oath of office was administered by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at a ceremonial function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Shri Radhakrishnan, who was serving as the Governor of Maharashtra prior to his elevation, succeeds as one of the country’s senior-most constitutional authorities.
Following the swearing-in, Shri Radhakrishnan paid homage at Rajghat to Mahatma Gandhi. He also offered tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Sadaiv Atal, to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya at his memorial on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, and to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh at Kisan Ghat.
Early Life and Education
Born on 4 May 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Shri Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Beginning his public journey as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Swayamsevak, he became a member of the State Executive Committee of the Bharatiya Janasangh in 1974. Before stepping fully into public life, he had an accomplished career as a garment exporter.
Political Career and Parliamentary Contributions
Shri Radhakrishnan entered mainstream politics in 1996 as Secretary of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit. Two years later, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore, a seat he retained in 1999. As a Member of Parliament, he held several important positions, including Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Textiles, Member of the Committee on Public Sector Undertakings, and Member of the Consultative Committee on Finance. He was also part of the Special Parliamentary Committee that investigated the Stock Exchange Scam.
In 2004, Shri Radhakrishnan represented India at the United Nations General Assembly as part of the Parliamentary Delegation and was a member of the first Indian Parliamentary Delegation to Taiwan.
Between 2004 and 2007, as the BJP’s State President in Tamil Nadu, he spearheaded a 19,000 km ‘Ratha Yatra’ over 93 days to advocate for issues such as interlinking of rivers, combating terrorism, implementing a uniform civil code, eliminating untouchability, and addressing drug abuse. He also undertook two Padayatras for various social causes.
Leadership Roles and Governorship
Appointed Chairman of the Coir Board, Kochi, in 2016, Shri Radhakrishnan oversaw record coir exports worth Rs. 2,532 crore during his four-year tenure. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the All India In-Charge of the BJP in Kerala.
In February 2023, he was appointed Governor of Jharkhand, where he travelled to all 24 districts within his first four months, engaging directly with citizens and officials. He also held additional charges as Governor of Telangana and as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Later, as Governor of Maharashtra, he actively engaged with legislators, business leaders, and communities across the state.
With his swearing-in as Vice President, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan brings decades of administrative, legislative, and grassroots experience to one of India’s highest constitutional offices.