C. P. Radhakrishnan was elected the 15th Vice President of India on September 9, 2025, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned in July due to health reasons. The Vice President is the second-highest constitutional office and serves as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. In the absence of the President, the VP assumes discharge of presidential responsibilities.
Election Highlights
- Conducted via secret ballot in Parliament, the NDA-backed Radhakrishnan secured 452 of 752 valid votes, while the INDIA bloc’s nominee, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, received 300.
- Voter turnout was approximately 96%, with results declared within an hour of counting.
- His election reflects the NDA’s entrenched parliamentary strength.
Early Life & Education
• Full Name: Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan
• Birth: October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu.
• Community: Belongs to the Kongu Vellalar Gounder, an OBC community influential in Tamil Nadu’s politics.
• Education: Holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) from V. O. Chidambaram College, Thoothukudi. In college, he also excelled in table tennis, becoming a champion.
Political Journey
• RSS & Jan Sangh: Joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his teens; by 1974, became a member of the State Executive Committee of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
• Lok Sabha MP: Elected to Parliament from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999; notable for winning in a region traditionally dominated by Dravidian forces.
• Parliamentary Work: Served on key committees—Textiles, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Finance, and a Special Committee on the Stock Exchange Scam. Represented India in the UN General Assembly in 2003–04 .
Organisational Leadership & Advocacy
• BJP Tamil Nadu President: Led the state unit from 2004 to 2007, during which he conducted a 93-day, 19,000-km Rath Yatra, championing river-linking, a Uniform Civil Code, anti-untouchability, anti-terror, and anti-narcotic initiatives .
• Coir Board Chairperson (2016–2020): Oversaw a period when coir exports soared to a record ₹2,700 crore (~$325 million), strengthening India’s position in the global coir market .
• BJP Org Role in Kerala: Held significant organisational responsibilities in the BJP’s expansion in Kerala post-2020.
Constitutional Roles: Governorships (2023–2025)
• Governor of Jharkhand: Sworn in on February 18, 2023; held office till mid-2024 .
• Additional Charges: Held overlapping responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry in early 2024 .
• Governor of Maharashtra: Appointed on July 31, 2024.
Potential UPSC / PSC Mains Questions
- “Discuss the role of the Vice President as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. How does the personality of the officeholder impact legislative functioning?”
- “Examine the constitutional provisions for the election of the Vice President. Why are state legislatures excluded from the process?”
- “The 2025 Vice Presidential election reflects both the dominance of the ruling party and the rising unity of the Opposition. Discuss.”
Prelims MCQs
Q1. The Vice President of India is elected by:
a) Members of Lok Sabha only
b) Members of Rajya Sabha only
c) Elected members of Parliament only
d) Members of both Houses of Parliament (elected + nominated)
Answer: d
Q2. Who among the following has held office as Vice President and later became President?
a) S. Radhakrishnan
b) Zakir Husain
c) Shankar Dayal Sharma
d) All of the above
Answer: d
Q3. In 2025, the Opposition’s Vice Presidential candidate was:
a) Margaret Alva
b) B. Sudershan Reddy
c) Hamid Ansari
d) Mallikarjun Kharge
Answer: b