NDA’s CP Radhakrishnan is India’s new Vice President, defeats opposition’s B Sudershan Reddy

With 452 votes, CP Radhakrishnan, NDA's candidate for Vice President of India, have beaten INDIA bloc's B Sudarshan Reddy, who garnered 300 votes.

The polling for Vice-Presidential elections, which commenced at 10 am, concluded at 5 am, and the counting concluded around 7.30 pm.

During Jagdeep Dhankhar's election as Vice President in 2022, the margin was more than 300-mark votes.

The decision of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to field Maharashtra Governor Radhakrishnan as its Vice-Presidential candidate placed the spotlight on a veteran BJP leader whose political journey spans nearly five decades, marked by grassroots work, organisational discipline and administrative experience. 

Born in 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan was associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. His association with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in the 1970s laid the foundation for a long career in the BJP, where he rose steadily through the ranks.

He went on to serve as president of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit between 2004 and 2007 and has been a key figure in building the BJP’s organisational presence in the state.

Radhakrishnan twice represented Coimbatore in the Lok Sabha, winning in 1998 and 1999, and was noted for his focus on industrial development, infrastructure and education.

In 2016, he was appointed chairman of the Coir Board in Kochi, where he oversaw record levels of exports.

He later served as BJP’s national in-charge for Kerala, a role that tested his skills in organisational management and political outreach.

His Constitutional responsibilities began in 2023 when he was appointed the Governor of Jharkhand.

He also briefly held additional charge of Telangana and Puducherry before being shifted to Maharashtra in 2024.

In these roles, Radhakrishnan earned a reputation for being measured and controversy-free, a style of functioning that distinguished him from some of his predecessors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while endorsing his candidature, praised him as a leader who combined “dedication, humility and intellect” with an unbroken commitment to grassroots empowerment.

At 67, Radhakrishnan brings with him nearly 40 years of public life, marked by both political and administrative experience.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)