Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan was sworn in as the 15th Vice-President of India on September 12, 2025. The oath ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, where President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath around 10 a.m.
Radhakrishnan, who is 67 years old, won the Vice-Presidential election held on September 9. He defeated the Opposition’s nominee, B. Sudershan Reddy, by a margin of 152 votes. Out of 752 valid votes, Radhakrishnan received 452, while 15 votes were declared invalid.
The election was necessary after former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21 due to health concerns. Dhankhar, who had stayed away from the public eye since his resignation, made his first appearance when he attended the oath ceremony.
The event was attended by top leaders of the government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President J. P. Nadda, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Former Vice-Presidents Hamid Ansari and Venkaiah Naidu were also present. However, Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge did not attend the ceremony.
Radhakrishnan has had a long political career. He was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore, in 1998 and 1999, with impressive margins. His victories helped strengthen the BJP’s presence in western Tamil Nadu, a region where the party had limited influence.
He has also served as the BJP’s state president in Tamil Nadu from 2004 to 2007 and has been part of the party’s national executive. More recently, he was appointed Governor of Jharkhand in February 2023 and later Governor of Maharashtra in February 2024.
Known for his roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Radhakrishnan is often described as a leader who combines ideological commitment with practical governance. Colleagues and observers note his simple lifestyle, straight-talking approach, and reputation for integrity qualities that distinguish him in the current political landscape.
