4.5/5
CP Radhakrishnan elected as India's 15th Vice President
C.P. Radhakrishnan Elected as India's 15th Vice President
Early Life & Background
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Full Name & Birth: Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, born on 20 October 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu
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Education: Earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from V. O. Chidambaram College in Thoothukudi. During college, he excelled in sports—particularly table tennis, and was also a long-distance runner; he enjoys cricket and volleyball
Political Roots
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RSS & BJP Association: Began his political journey in the early 1970s via the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), joining its political wing, Bharatiya Jana Sangh, by 1974. He later became a key figure in the BJP, particularly in Tamil Nadu
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Tamil Nadu Leadership: Served as state secretary of BJP in 1996 and then state president between 2003–2006. Belongs to the Kongu Vellalar Gounder community, known for its socio-economic prominence in the state
Parliamentary and Administrative Roles
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Member of Parliament: Elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999, securing his reputation as a trusted party leader
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Coir Board: Chaired the Coir Board of India from 2016 to 2020; during his term, coir exports reached a record value exceeding ₹2,700 crore (~USD 325 million)
Gubernatorial Tenure
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Jharkhand Governor: Took office in February 2023
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Additional Charges: Later held additional responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry in 2024
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Maharashtra Governor: Appointed as Governor of Maharashtra in July 2024 and served in that capacity until being chosen as Vice Presidential candidate
Vice Presidential Election: September 2025
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Victory: Elected as India’s 15th Vice President on 9 September 2025, securing 452 first-preference votes out of 752 valid ones, defeating former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy, who received 300 votes
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Voting Details: Of 781 electors, 767 MPs voted. The high turnout and margin reflected both BJP’s strength and opposition cross-voting concerns .
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Role & Significance: Takes on the second-highest constitutional office and becomes the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, stepping in as acting President if needed
Reputation & Relations
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Amicable Leadership: Known in Tamil Nadu as "Ajatshatru" for his cordial relationship across party lines—including with DMK & AIADMK—and referred to as “Vajpayee of Coimbatore” for his temperament
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Soft-Spoken & Clean Image: Praised as a disciplined, humble, and unblemished leader both in political and administrative arenas
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Regional Pride: Tamil Nadu leaders hailed him as a "son of the soil" and celebrated his being the third Vice President from the state
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Nationalism and Ideology: Framed his win as a victory of "nationalistic ideology" and reaffirmed commitment to national development and constitutional values
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Federal Harmony Advocate: Emphasizes importance of cooperative federalism, urging stronger ties between the Centre and states for a robust democracy
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Praise from Leaders: Maharashtra’s political heavyweights, including CM Fadnavis, Dy CMs Shinde and Pawar, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal, lauded his leadership, humility, and public service record
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