Profile of Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan
Shri Chandrapuram Ponnusami (C.P.) Radhakrishnan assumed office as the Vice-President of India on 12 September 2025.
Early Life, Education and Professional Background
Shri Chandrapuram Ponnusami (C.P.) Radhakrishnan was born on 4 May 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, into a deeply nationalistic family with strong patriotic values on both his maternal and paternal sides. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from V.O.C. College, Tuticorin. Before entering full-time public life, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan had a long and successful professional career as a garment exporter.
Public and Political Life
With more than four decades of experience in public life, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan is a respected figure in the political and social landscape of Tamil Nadu.
His early association as a swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) played a formative role in shaping his values of discipline, national service, and social commitment.
During the Emergency period, while studying at V.O.C. College, Tuticorin, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan actively organised the collection of funds to support individuals who had been imprisoned during the Emergency.
Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan also served as the District General Secretary of the “Total Revolution” movement led by Lok Nayak Shri Jayaprakash Narayan in Coimbatore district. The Total Revolution movement of the 1970s called for a comprehensive transformation of Indian society, addressing corruption, misgovernance, and social injustice through systemic reform.
Over the years, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan worked extensively at the organisational level, strengthening party structures and connecting public concerns with grassroots engagement.
Between 2004 and 2007, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan served as the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu. During his tenure, he undertook several mass outreach initiatives focusing on national integration, social reform, and public awareness.
One of the most significant among these was a 19,000-kilometre Ratha Yatra across Tamil Nadu, undertaken over 93 days.
The Yatra highlighted several important national and social issues, including:
- Interlinking of Indian rivers
- Eradication of terrorism
- Implementation of a Uniform Civil Code
- Removal of untouchability
- Combating narcotic drug abuse
In addition, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan led two Padayatras on important social causes, reflecting his long-standing commitment to direct public outreach and grassroots mobilisation.
His public life has also been marked by moments of personal courage. On 14 February 1998, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan narrowly escaped unharmed in the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Tamil Nadu. The incident further reinforced his steadfast commitment to national security, and the fight against terrorism.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- State Executive Committee Member, Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1974)
- District General Secretary, “Total Revolution” Movement led by Lok Nayak Shri Jayaprakash Narayan in Coimbatore district
- Secretary, BJP Tamil Nadu (1996)
- State President, BJP Tamil Nadu (2004–2007)
- From 2020 to 2022, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan also served as the All India In-Charge of the BJP for Kerala.
Parliamentary Career: Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan served as a Member of Parliament representing Coimbatore and actively contributed to parliamentary oversight, legislative deliberations, and international parliamentary engagement.
Parliamentary Responsibilities
- Elected to the twelfth and thirteenth Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999
- Member, Twelfth Lok Sabha (1998-99)
Member, Committee on Commerce and its Sub-Committee on Textiles
Member, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
Member, Consultative Committee for Finance - Member, Thirteen Lok Sabha (1999-2004)
Member, Committee on Commerce
Member, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
Convenor, Sub-Committee on Textiles of Committee on Commerce
Member, Committee on Public Sector Undertakings
Member, Consultative Committee for Finance
Member, Joint Committee on the Stock Market Scam and matters related thereto
Addressed the United Nations General Assembly as part of an Indian Parliamentary Delegation in 2004
Member of the first Indian Parliamentary delegation to Taiwan
Leadership in Economic and Institutional Development: Chairman, Coir Board
In 2016, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan was appointed Chairman of the Coir Board, Kochi, a position he held for four years. Under his leadership, the industry achieved steady expansion in export earnings, strengthening India’s position as the global leader in coir and coir-based products.
During his tenure, the Indian coir industry witnessed significant growth in exports and global recognition. The export earnings increased from ₹1,901 crore in 2015–16 to ₹2,758 crore in 2019–20.
Building on the strong foundation laid during his tenure (2016–20), exports of coir and coir products reached an all-time high of ₹3,788 crore in 2020–21. This represented an overall increase of nearly 100% compared to the export value in 2015–16.
Constitutional Responsibilities: Governor and Lieutenant Governor
On 18 February 2023, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan was appointed Governor of Jharkhand(18th February 2023 – 30th July 2024). Within the first four months of assuming office, he travelled across all 24 districts of the state, interacting closely with citizens, public representatives, and district officials.
During this period, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan also held additional charge as:
- Governor of Telangana (19th March 2024- 31st July 2024)
- Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry(19th March 2024- 6th August 2024)
Prior to his election as Vice-President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan served as the Governor of Maharashtra for a little over one year (31st July 2024 – 11th September, 2025). As Governor, he travelled extensively across the state and engaged with elected representatives, officials, business leaders, academic institutions, and diverse sections of society.
He took a keen interest in improving the quality of and access to higher education, particularly for tribal students. Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan closely monitored initiatives such as the “School Connect” programme, undertaken in coordination with Vice-Chancellors of state-funded universities in Maharashtra, to encourage tribal girls and boys to pursue higher education.
Personal Interests, Public Engagement and Advocacy
An avid sportsperson, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan was a college champion in table tennis and a long-distance runner. He has also actively participated in cricket and volleyball.
Widely travelled, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan has visited several countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Nordic countries, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and West Asia.
Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan strongly advocates youth participation in sports, public service, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community welfare initiatives.
Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan has consistently expressed deep concern over the growing menace of drug abuse, particularly among the youth. Wherever he travels across the country, he makes it a point to interact with students and young people, encouraging them to stay away from narcotic substances and adopt a healthy, disciplined, and purposeful lifestyle.
Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan is also a strong advocate of organ and eye donation. He has repeatedly emphasised the importance of creating greater public awareness about organ donation as a life-saving humanitarian act capable of giving hope and a second chance at life to countless patients in need.
Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan actively supports several important national initiatives, including:
- TB Mukt Bharat: He has consistently stressed the importance of public participation, awareness, early diagnosis, and community support in achieving the goal of a tuberculosis-free India.
- Fit India Movement: Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan regularly advocates physical fitness, healthy living, sports participation, and mental well-being, especially among young people, as essential components of nation-building.
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
In his constitutional role as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan has earned appreciation for conducting proceedings with efficiency, dignity, and balance. He has consistently ensured that the House functions smoothly while upholding democratic values, parliamentary traditions, and decorum.
Known for maintaining cordial relations across party lines, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan fosters a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect among members, contributing to constructive parliamentary discourse and effective functioning of the Upper House of Parliament.
Institutional and Academic Positions
In addition to his constitutional responsibilities as the Vice-President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan holds several important institutional and academic positions on an ex officio basis.
President, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA)
As President of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan supports efforts aimed at strengthening excellence in public administration, governance, and policy research. The Institute plays an important role in promoting capacity-building, administrative reforms, and informed public policy discourse in India.
President, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan also serves as President of the Indian Council of World Affairs, one of India’s premier institutions dedicated to the study of international relations and foreign policy.The Council serves as an important platform for interaction among diplomats, scholars, policymakers, and strategic experts.
Chancellor of Central Universities
As Vice-President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan serves as Chancellor of following central universities:
- University of Delhi
- Panjab University
- Pondicherry University