The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has named Maharashtra Governor Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the post of Vice President of India.
With over four decades in politics and public life, Radhakrishnan brings a long and varied career spanning grassroots activism, parliamentary work, gubernatorial responsibilities, and leadership within the BJP.
Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
His public life began early—he started as an RSS Swayamsevak and became a State Executive Committee Member of the Bharatiya Janasangh in 1974.
Rise in politics and Lok Sabha journey
In 1996, he was appointed Secretary of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, before entering national politics as an elected MP from Coimbatore in 1998. He was re-elected in 1999.
During his parliamentary tenure, Radhakrishnan served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Textiles, and was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and the Consultative Committee for Finance. He was part of the Special Parliamentary Committee probing the Stock Exchange Scam.
In 2004, he addressed the UN General Assembly as part of India’s Parliamentary Delegation and was also a member of the first Indian Parliamentary delegation to Taiwan.
State leadership and mass campaigns
Between 2004 and 2007, Radhakrishnan was the President of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, where he undertook a 19,000 km ‘Ratha Yatra’ lasting 93 days. The campaign raised demands for linking India’s rivers, eradicating terrorism, implementing a uniform civil code, removing untouchability, and combating narcotic drugs. He also led two more Padayatras for various causes.
In 2016, he became Chairman of the Coir Board, Kochi, where under his leadership, India’s coir exports touched an all-time high of Rs 2,532 crore. From 2020 to 2022, he was All-India in charge of BJP for Kerala.
On February 18, 2023, he was appointed Governor of Jharkhand. Within four months of assuming office, he travelled across all 24 districts of the state, engaging with citizens and officials. He also briefly discharged additional responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Lt. Governor of Puducherry.
On July 31, 2024, he was sworn in as the Governor of Maharashtra.
Personal life and interests
Radhakrishnan is also known as a sports enthusiast—a college champion in table tennis and a long-distance runner, with interests in cricket and volleyball.
A widely travelled leader, he has visited countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, including the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Egypt, UAE, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Japan.
As the NDA’s Vice Presidential nominee, CP Radhakrishnan’s candidacy highlights his blend of grassroots connect, parliamentary experience, and gubernatorial service, positioning him as a seasoned figure in Indian politics.
With over four decades in politics and public life, Radhakrishnan brings a long and varied career spanning grassroots activism, parliamentary work, gubernatorial responsibilities, and leadership within the BJP.
Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
His public life began early—he started as an RSS Swayamsevak and became a State Executive Committee Member of the Bharatiya Janasangh in 1974.
Rise in politics and Lok Sabha journey
In 1996, he was appointed Secretary of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, before entering national politics as an elected MP from Coimbatore in 1998. He was re-elected in 1999.
During his parliamentary tenure, Radhakrishnan served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Textiles, and was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and the Consultative Committee for Finance. He was part of the Special Parliamentary Committee probing the Stock Exchange Scam.
In 2004, he addressed the UN General Assembly as part of India’s Parliamentary Delegation and was also a member of the first Indian Parliamentary delegation to Taiwan.
State leadership and mass campaigns
Between 2004 and 2007, Radhakrishnan was the President of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, where he undertook a 19,000 km ‘Ratha Yatra’ lasting 93 days. The campaign raised demands for linking India’s rivers, eradicating terrorism, implementing a uniform civil code, removing untouchability, and combating narcotic drugs. He also led two more Padayatras for various causes.
In 2016, he became Chairman of the Coir Board, Kochi, where under his leadership, India’s coir exports touched an all-time high of Rs 2,532 crore. From 2020 to 2022, he was All-India in charge of BJP for Kerala.
On February 18, 2023, he was appointed Governor of Jharkhand. Within four months of assuming office, he travelled across all 24 districts of the state, engaging with citizens and officials. He also briefly discharged additional responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Lt. Governor of Puducherry.
On July 31, 2024, he was sworn in as the Governor of Maharashtra.
Personal life and interests
Radhakrishnan is also known as a sports enthusiast—a college champion in table tennis and a long-distance runner, with interests in cricket and volleyball.
A widely travelled leader, he has visited countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, including the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Egypt, UAE, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Japan.
As the NDA’s Vice Presidential nominee, CP Radhakrishnan’s candidacy highlights his blend of grassroots connect, parliamentary experience, and gubernatorial service, positioning him as a seasoned figure in Indian politics.
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