CP Radhakrishnan, a seasoned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Tamil Nadu and current Maharashtra governor, has been announced as the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate for the Vice President of India in the upcoming election scheduled for September 9, 2025. This poll was necessitated by the resignation of incumbent Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health concerns.

The announcement was made by BJP President JP Nadda on Sunday positioning Radhakrishnan as a statesman-like figure who commands respect across societal sections, particularly in Tamil Nadu.

“In his long years in public life,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has distinguished himself with his dedication, humility and intellect. During the various positions he has held, he has always focused on community service and empowering the marginalised. He has done extensive work at the grassroots in Tamil Nadu. I am glad that the NDA family has decided to nominate him as the Vice Presidential candidate of our alliance.”

At 67, with Radhakrishnan’s nomination BJP and the NDA are aiming to leverage his southern roots and administrative experience to strengthen its national footprint, as well to impress Tamil Nadu voters in the upcoming assembly elections.

Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, then part of Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan hails from an agricultural background. He pursued his education at V. O. Chidambaram College and has been deeply influenced by nationalist ideologies since his teenage years.

Joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political arm, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, at the age of 16, Radhakrishnan embodied the ethos of Hindutva and public service early on. Married to R Sumathi, he maintains a low-key personal life, focusing on his roles as an agriculturist and politician. His early involvement in grassroots activism laid the foundation for a career dedicated to expanding the BJP’s presence in Dravidian-dominated Tamil Nadu, where the party has historically struggled.

Radhakrishnan’s political journey began in earnest with the BJP, where he quickly rose through the ranks. He first gained national prominence as a two-time Member of Parliament (MP) from the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency, securing victories in the 1998 and 1999 general elections. In 1998, he won by a margin of over 150,000 votes, and in 1999 by 55,000, demonstrating his appeal in an industrial hub.

Although he faced defeats in subsequent polls —2004, 2014, and 2019 — he consistently polled strongly, finishing as the runner-up in Tamil Nadu for the BJP in 2014 and 2019 despite lacking alliances with major regional players like the DMK or AIADMK.

Often dubbed the “Modi of Tamil Nadu” for his organisational skills and charisma, Radhakrishnan served as the BJP’s Tamil Nadu state president from May 2003 to September 2006. 21 During this tenure, he led a 93-day rath yatra across all parliamentary constituencies, advocating for interlinking rivers, eradicating untouchability, and combating terrorism. He also forged key alliances, such as with the AIADMK for the 2004 elections after the DMK exited the NDA.

Beyond electoral politics, Radhakrishnan has held significant administrative and diplomatic roles. From 2016 to 2020, he chaired the All India Coir Board under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, promoting the coir industry and rural employment. In Parliament, he was a member of the Committee on Public Sector Undertakings (1998-2004) and the Consultative Committee for Finance. His international stature was evident when he addressed the 58th UN General Assembly in 2003 on humanitarian and disaster relief, and led India’s first parliamentary delegation to Taiwan in 2014. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the BJP’s in-charge (Prabhari) for Kerala, bolstering the party’s southern outreach. 21 Until recently, he was a National Executive Member of the BJP.

In recent years, Radhakrishnan transitioned to gubernatorial positions, showcasing his administrative acumen. Appointed Governor of Jharkhand in February 2023, he held additional charges as Governor of Telangana (March-July 2024) and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry (March-August 2024). Since July 31, 2024, he has been the Governor of Maharashtra, a role that has prepared him for higher constitutional duties.