New Delhi, September 12, 2025 – Chandrapuram Ponnusamy (CP) Radhakrishnan officially took oath as the 15th Vice-President of India on Friday. The ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at 10:10 am in English.
Dignitaries Attend Historic Ceremony
The event witnessed the presence of several high-profile leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Vice-Presidents Jagdeep Dhankhar and M Venkaiah Naidu, former President Ram Nath Kovind, and senior Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari.
Radhakrishnan’s Resounding Victory
At 67, Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader from Tamil Nadu with long-standing ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), secured a decisive win in the Vice-Presidential election.
- He bagged 452 votes against 300 votes polled by Opposition INDIA bloc’s candidate, former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy.
- Backed by the BJP-led NDA’s 427 MPs, along with support from the YSR Congress Party’s 11 MPs and smaller allies, his victory margin comfortably crossed the required majority of 377 votes.
- Reports also suggest cross-voting in his favour.
Election Triggered by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Resignation
The Vice-Presidential election was held following the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, who stepped down citing health concerns.
Transition from Governor to Vice-President
Ahead of assuming his new role, Radhakrishnan resigned as Governor of Maharashtra on Thursday. President Murmu has assigned Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat with additional charge of Maharashtra until a new governor is appointed.
Political Journey of CP Radhakrishnan
Radhakrishnan is a two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore and a former BJP Tamil Nadu president. His political career spans decades, beginning with the Jana Sangh before merging into the BJP, where he emerged as a key leader in southern India.
