View source for C. P. Radhakrishnan

{{Short description|Vice President of India since 2025}}
{{Indian patronymic|Radhakrishnan|Chandrapuram Ponnusami}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = C. P. Radhakrishnan
| image               = Shri C P Radhakrishnan, Honourable Vice President of India.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2025
| office              = [[Vice President of India]]
| president           = [[Droupadi Murmu]]
| primeminister       = [[Narendra Modi]]
| term_start          = 12 September 2025
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]]
| office1             = [[Governor of Maharashtra]]
| term_start1         = 31 July 2024
| term_end1           = 11 September 2025
| 1blankname1         = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1          = [[Eknath Shinde]]<br>[[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| predecessor1        = [[Ramesh Bais]]
| successor1          = [[Acharya Devvrat]] ''(additional charge)''
| office2             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Governor of Jharkhand]]
| term_start2         = 18 February 2023
| term_end2           = 30 July 2024
| 1blankname2         = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2          = [[Hemant Soren]]<br>[[Champai Soren]]
| predecessor2        = [[Ramesh Bais]]
| successor2          = [[Santosh Gangwar]]
| office3             = [[List of governors of Telangana|Governor of Telangana]]
| term_start3         = 20 March 2024
| term_end3           = 30 July 2024
| 1blankname3         = Chief Minister
| 1namedata3          = [[Revanth Reddy]]
| predecessor3        = [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]]
| successor3          = [[Jishnu Dev Varma]]
| office4             = [[List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry|Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry]]
| term_start4         = 22 March 2024
| term_end4           = 6 August 2024
| 1blankname4         = Chief Minister
| 1namedata4          = [[N. Rangaswamy]]
| predecessor4        = [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]]
| successor4          = [[Kuniyil Kailashnathan]]
| office5             = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| primeminister5      = 
| constituency5       = [[Coimbatore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu]]
| term_start5         = 3 March 1998
| term_end5           = 16 May 2004
| preceded5           = [[M. Ramanathan]]
| succeeded5          = [[K. Subbarayan]]
| office6             = [[President (corporate title)|State President]] of [[Bharatiya Janata Party – Tamil Nadu|Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamil Nadu]]
| term_start6         = 12 May 2003
| term_end6           = 22 September 2006
| predecessor6        = S. P. Kirubanidhi
| successor6          = [[La. Ganesan]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=y|4 May 1957}}
| birth_place         = [[Tiruppur]], [[Madras State]], India
| occupation          = {{hlist|[[Businessperson]]|[[agriculturalist]]|[[politician]]}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[R. Sumathi]]|1985}}
| party               = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| alma_mater          = [[V. O. Chidambaram College]] ([[Bachelor of Business Administration|B.BA]])
| alt                 = C. P. Radhakrishnan
| birth_name          = Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan
| relatives           = 
| children            = 2
| status3             = {{small|Additional charge}}
| status4             = {{small|Additional charge}}
| width               = 220px
| residence           = [[Vice President's Enclave, New Delhi]]
| parents             =
}}
'''Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan''' (born 4 May 1957) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 15th [[Vice President of India]] since 12 September 2025. He previously served as the [[Governor (India)|Governor]] of various states, and as a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|member of parliament in Lok Sabha]].

Born in [[Tiruppur]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] in 1957, Radhakrishnan obtained his [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] degree from [[V. O. Chidambaram College]] in [[Thoothukudi]]. He has been associated with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] and [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] since his youth. In 1974, he became part of the Jan Sangh's state executive committee in [[Tamil Nadu]], and later became part of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP), when it was founded in 1980. Representing the BJP, Radhakrishnan was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] twice from [[Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency|Coimbatore]] in the [[1998 Indian general election|1998]] and [[1999 Indian general election|1999 general elections]]. Since then, he had unsuccessfully contested three general elections from the same constituency in [[2004 Indian general election|2004]], [[2014 Indian general election|2014]], and [[2019 Indian general election|2019]]. He served as the state president of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party – Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu unit]] of the BJP from 2003 to 2006. Radhakrishnan was appointed as the [[Governor of Jharkhand]] in February 2023 and served in the position till July 2024. He also held additional charges as the [[Governor of Telangana]] and [[Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry]] in 2024. He served as the [[List of governors of Maharashtra|Governor of Maharashtra]] from July 2024 to September 2025. Following the resignation of the vice president [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]] in August 2025, Radhakrishnan was named as the candidate of the [[National Democratic Alliance]] for the [[2025 Indian vice presidential election]]. In the elections held on 9 September 2025, he defeated [[B. Sudarshan Reddy]] and was sworn in as the vice president on 12 September 2025.

==Early life==
Radhakrishnan was born on 4 May 1957 to C. K. Ponnusamy and K. Janaki in [[Tiruppur]], [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="PIB">{{cite web|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2165918|title=Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan sworn in as the 15th Vice President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha|work=[[Press Information Bureau]]|date=12 September 2025|access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=17 August 2025|title=Who is CP Radhakrishnan? Meet NDA candidate for Vice-Presidential election - here's all you need to know|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/who-is-cp-radhakrishnan-meet-nda-candidate-for-vice-presidential-election-heres-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/123347209.cms|access-date=18 August 2025|work=[[The Times of India]]|issn=0971-8257}}</ref> He belongs to the [[Kongu Vellalar|Gounder]] community. He was reportedly named after the then-incumbent [[List of vice presidents of India#List|first Vice-President of India]], [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] and co-incidentally he was [[1957 Indian vice presidential election|elected for a second term]] just a week after his birth, leading to a belief of some shared destiny. He received a [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] degree from [[V. O. Chidambaram College]] in [[Thoothukudi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NDA Vice President: CP Radhakrishnan's Journey from RSS to Raj Bhavan |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/grassroots-to-governor-the-rise-of-cp-radhakrishnan-ndas-vp-nominee-3684882 |access-date=18 August 2025|work=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=10 Facts About CP Radhakrishnan, BJP's Pick for Vice President|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/5-facts-about-cp-radhakrishnan-bjps-pick-for-vice-president-9103424|work=[[NDTV]]|access-date=1 September 2025}}</ref> Since the age of 16, he has been associated with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] and the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=19 March 2024|title=From Tamil Nadu BJP Leader To Governor Of Two States: Know Political Journey Of CP Radhakrishnan|url=https://news.abplive.com/states/cp-radhakrishnan-tamil-nadu-bjp-leader-to-jharkhand-telangana-lt-puducherry-governor-two-states-political-journey-1673038|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323134716/https://news.abplive.com/states/cp-radhakrishnan-tamil-nadu-bjp-leader-to-jharkhand-telangana-lt-puducherry-governor-two-states-political-journey-1673038|archive-date=23 March 2024|access-date=23 March 2024|work=[[ABP News]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|last=Ranjan|first=Mukesh|date=19 February 2023|title=C P Radhakrishnan takes oath as 11th Governor of Jharkhand |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/Feb/19/c-p-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-11th-governor-of-jharkhand-2548886.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324000625/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/feb/19/c-p-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-11th-governor-of-jharkhand-2548886.html|archive-date=24 March 2023|access-date=24 March 2025|work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

==Political career==
In 1974, Radhakrishnan was elected to the Jan Sangh's state executive committee. He joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) after it was founded in 1980, and became an aide to [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Vajpayee invites BJP leaders to Delhi for talks|url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/14/stories/2003091408180400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031027142032/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/14/stories/2003091408180400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 October 2003|date=14 September 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai|access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref>

=== Member of parliament (1998-2004) ===
In the [[1998 Indian general election|1998 elections]], Radhakrishnan was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]], representing [[Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency|Coimbatore]]. The election was held in the aftermath of the [[1998 Coimbatore bombings]].<ref>{{cite news|last=KV|first=Prasad|title=BJP will have to start from scratch|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/bjp-will-have-to-start-from-scratch/article3128814.ece|access-date=28 December 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=5 May 2006|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234724/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/bjp-will-have-to-start-from-scratch/article3128814.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> He defeated the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) candidate by a margin of 144,676 votes. He was one of three BJP candidates to win in Tamil Nadu as a part of the party's alliance with the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK).<ref>{{cite news|title=Verdict not a surprise, says Radhakrishnan|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/verdict-not-a-surprise-says-radhakrishnan/article1935922.ece|accessdate=29 December 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=25 October 2007|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235008/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/verdict-not-a-surprise-says-radhakrishnan/article1935922.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Representing the BJP, he won the [[1999 Indian general election|1999 elections]] from the same constitutency as a part of the DMK-led alliance.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/09coim.htm|title=It's the party that sells, not candidates!|date=September 1999|access-date=8 January 2014|archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108142733/http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/09coim.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= It's for DMK to explain,says C.P. Radhakrishnan|url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/05/13/stories/2003051305250400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108154529/http://www.hindu.com/2003/05/13/stories/2003051305250400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 January 2014 |date=13 May 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> He was part of a parliamentary delegation to the [[United Nations]], and addressed the 58th session of the [[United Nations General Assembly]] on 20 October 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement by Hon'ble Mr. C. P. Radhakrishnan, Member of Parliament and Member of the Indian Delegation at the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly on October 20, 2003|url=https://pminewyork.gov.in/pdf/uploadpdf/4115715.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323142633/https://pminewyork.gov.in/pdf/uploadpdf/4115715.pdf|archive-date=23 March 2024|access-date=23 March 2024|work=Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations}}</ref> He was a member of the parliamentary committee for public sector undertakings from 1998 to 2004 and a member of the parliamentary consultative committee for finance.<ref name=":1"/>

=== Party chief and later years (2005-2022) ===
Ahead of the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 general elections]], he was among the BJP's state leaders who worked on forming an alliance with the AIADMK in 2004 after the DMK exited from the BJP-led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|title=TN BJP invites AIADMK to return to NDA |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan032004/n1.asp |date=3 January 2004|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|access-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108142055/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan032004/n1.asp |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> His tenure in the [[Parliament of India]] ended following his defeat in the 2004 general election to [[K. Subbarayan]] of the [[Communist Party of India]].<ref name=":1"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Key Contests : CP Radhakrishnan vs K Subbarayan|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/key-contests-cp-radhakrishnan-vs-k-subbarayan-104050101072_1.html|date=1 May 2004|work=[[Business Standard]]|access-date=8 January 2014 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108134731/http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/key-contests-cp-radhakrishnan-vs-k-subbarayan-104050101072_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was appointed as the state president of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu unit]] of the BJP in 2004 and served in the position till 2006. As the president, he took a [[rath yatra]] for 93 days, advocating the linkage of Indian rivers, eradicating untouchability, and campaigning against terrorism in India. He covered all the parliamentary constituencies of Tamil Nadu during his journey, which faced criticism from the ruling DMK. He was also involved in the organising of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party – Kerala|Kerala state unit]] of the BJP during the late 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Raj Bhavan|url=https://governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do|url-status=deviated|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328055108/http://www.governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do|archive-date=28 March 2024|access-date=28 March 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=24 June 2003|title=Two-month awareness yatra by TN BJP chief|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/two-month-awareness-yatra-by-tn-bjp-chief/articleshow/41575.cms|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328055825/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/two-month-awareness-yatra-by-tn-bjp-chief/articleshow/41575.cms|archive-date=28 March 2024|access-date=28 March 2024|work=[[The Times of India]]|issn=0971-8257}}</ref> In 2012, he faced court arrest in [[Mettupalayam, Coimbatore|Mettupalayam]] for protesting inaction against culprits who had assaulted an RSS activist.<ref>{{cite news|title=Normality returns to Mettupalayam |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/normality-returns-to-mettupalayam/article4078605.ece|date=9 November 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=8 January 2014 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108143238/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/normality-returns-to-mettupalayam/article4078605.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

Radhakrishnan was announced as the BJP candidate for Coimbatore in the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 general elections]]. He secured second place after polling 389,701 votes, the highest among the BJP candidates in Tamil Nadu. He contested as the party's candidate from the same constituency in the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general election]] and lost to [[P. R. Natarajan]] of the CPIM.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Madhavan|first1=Karthik|date=22 March 2019|title=Familiar faces to fight it out in Coimbatore|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/familiar-faces-to-fight-it-out-in-coimbatore/article26613617.ece|access-date=24 March 2019|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=28 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128161556/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/familiar-faces-to-fight-it-out-in-coimbatore/article26613617.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the chairman of the [[Coir Board of India]], which comes under the [[Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises]], from 2016 to 2020.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Coirboard |url=http://coirboard.gov.in/?page_id=34 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627113940/http://coirboard.gov.in/?page_id=34 |archive-date=27 June 2018|access-date=23 March 2023|work=Coir board}}</ref> He also served as a member of the BJP's national executive.<ref name=":1"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Senior BJP leader CP Radhakrishnan appointed Jharkhand Guv|url=https://www.northeastherald.in/national/senior-bjp-leader-cp-radhakrishnan-appointed-jharkhand-guv |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319081415/https://www.northeastherald.in/national/senior-bjp-leader-cp-radhakrishnan-appointed-jharkhand-guv |archive-date=19 March 2024 |access-date=19 March 2024|work=Northeast Herald}}</ref>

=== Governorship (2023–2025) ===
On 12 February 2023, [[President of India|president]] [[Droupadi Murmu]] appointed Radhakrishnan as the [[governor of Jharkhand]], succeeding [[Ramesh Bais]], and he took office on 18 February 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=C.P. Radhakrishnan takes oath as Jharkhand Governor|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cp-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-jharkhand-governor/article66524298.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=18 February 2023|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan - Hon'ble Governor of Jharkhand|url=https://rajbhavanjharkhand.nic.in/the_governer.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303170044/https://rajbhavanjharkhand.nic.in/the_governer.html |archive-date=3 March 2024|access-date=26 June 2024|work=[[Governor of Jharkhand]]}}</ref> Following the resignation of [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]], he held additional responsibilities as the [[governor of Telangana]] and as [[lieutenant Governor of Puducherry]] from 19 March 2024.<ref>{{cite news|title = C.P. Radhakrishnan assumes charge of Lt. Governor of Puducherry|url=https://www.newsonair.gov.in/c-p-radhakrishnan-assumes-charge-of-lt-governor-of-puducherry/|work=[[All India Radio]]|date=22 March 2024|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan given additional responsibilities of Telangana, Puducherry|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/jharkhand-governor-cp-radhakrishnan-given-additional-responsibilities-of-telangana-puducherry/article67967271.ece|access-date=19 March 2024|date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319080335/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/jharkhand-governor-cp-radhakrishnan-given-additional-responsibilities-of-telangana-puducherry/article67967271.ece |archive-date=19 March 2024|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan takes charge as Telangana governor|url=https://www.newsonair.gov.in/jharkhand-governor-c-p-radhakrishnan-to-take-charge-as-governor-of-telangana/|work=[[All India Radio]]|date=20 March 2024|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> On 27 July 2024, he was appointed as [[List of governors of Maharashtra|governor of Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite news|title=CP Radhakrishnan takes oath as Maharashtra governor|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/cp-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-maharashtra-governor/articleshow/112171726.cms|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=31 July 2024|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> [[Jishnu Dev Varma]], [[Santosh Gangwar]], and [[Kuniyil Kailashnathan]] , took over his positions in Telangana, Jharkhand, and Puducherry, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title= Santosh Kumar Gangwar sworn in as Jharkhand Governor|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jharkhand/santosh-kumar-gangwar-sworn-in-as-jharkhand-governor-2-3129975|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=31 July 2024|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=28 July 2024|title=Jishnu Dev Varma is new Governor of Telangana; Radhakrishnan moves to Maharashtra |url=https://telanganatoday.com/jishnu-dev-varma-is-new-governor-of-telangana-radhakrishnan-moves-to-maharashtra |url-status=live |access-date=1 July 2025|work=[[Telangana Today]]|archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728081533/https://telanganatoday.com/jishnu-dev-varma-is-new-governor-of-telangana-radhakrishnan-moves-to-maharashtra }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=27 July 2024|title=Press Communique 19|url=https://www.presidentofindia.gov.in/press_releases/press-communique-19|url-status=live|access-date=28 July 2024|work=Office of the [[President of India]]|archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728081512/https://www.presidentofindia.gov.in/press_releases/press-communique-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=27 July 2024|title=Press Communique 20|url=https://www.presidentofindia.gov.in/press_releases/press-communique-20 |access-date=28 July 2024|work=Office of the [[President of India]]}}</ref> Radhakrishnan resigned as [[List of governors of Maharashtra|governor of Maharashtra]] following his election as the [[Vice President of India]].

== Vice President of India (2025–present) ==
[[File:The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu administered the Oath of Office of Vice President of India to Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan at a Swearing-in-Ceremony held at Ganatantra Mandap, in Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 12, 2025.jpg|thumb|CP Radhakrishnan with President [[Droupadi Murmu]] and Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] after taking the oath of office as the 16th Vice President of India, 2025]]

On 17 August 2025, following the resignation of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Indian_vice_presidential_election 15th Vice President] [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]], BJP national president [[J. P. Nadda]] announced Radhakrishnan's candidacy in the [[2025 Indian vice presidential election|2025 vice presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = NDA names Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan as vice-presidential candidate|url = https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/nda-names-maharashtra-governor-cp-radhakrishnan-as-vice-presidential-candidate-13460692.html|work = Moneycontrol|date = 2025-08-18|access-date = 2025-08-20|language = en}}</ref> He was endorsed by all NDA member parties, including the [[AIADMK]], [[JD(U)]], [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]], [[Telugu Desam Party|TDP]], [[Shiv Sena (2022–present)|SS]], and non-member parties, such as the [[YSRCP]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-18 |title=Vice presidential poll: Nitish Kumar's JD(U) backs NDA's candidate; extends wishes to CP Radhakrishnan |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vice-presidential-poll-nitish-kumars-jdu-backs-ndas-candidate-extends-wishes-to-cp-radhakrishnan/articleshow/123356215.cms |access-date=2025-08-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sam Daniel Stalin |first=J |date=18 August 2025 |title="Rise Above Party Lines": BJP, AIADMK To Opposition Over Vice President Pick |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nda-vice-president-candidate-cp-radhakrishnan-bjp-aiadmk-to-opposition-over-vice-president-pick-9108512 |work=NDTV}}</ref> He ran against [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] (INDIA) candidate [[B. Sudarshan Reddy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=VP Election 2025: I.N.D.I.A. Nominates Ex-SC Judge B Sudarshan Reddy |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-bloc-picks-former-sc-judge-b-sudershan-reddy-as-vp-candidate-3687106 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> The polling and results for elections were announced on 9 September 2025 and he emerged victorious defeating Reddy by 116 votes. He polled 452 electoral votes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nair |first1=Sobhana K. |access-date=9 September 2025 |title=C.P. Radhakrishnan is the 17th Vice-President of India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cp-radhakrishnan-becomes-vice-president-september-9-2025/article70030241.ece |work=The Hindu}}</ref> He took oath as the 15th Vice President on 12 September 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-09-10 |title=C P Radhakrishnan likely to take oath as Vice President on September 12|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/c-p-radhakrishnan-likely-to-take-oath-as-vice-president-on-september-12/articleshow/123809497.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-09-10 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Radhakrishnan married R. Sumathi on 25 November 1985, and they have two children.<ref name="PIB"/> He practised long-distance running, and played [[cricket]], [[table tennis]], and [[volleyball]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Who is CP Radhakrishnan? NDA's candidate for Vice President elections |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-cp-radhakrishnan-ndas-candidate-for-vice-president-elections-1755443739090 |access-date=18 August 2025 |work=Wion }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=17 August 2025|title=Two-time MP, Governor, table tennis champion: 5 points on CP Radhakrishnan, NDA's VP pick|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/twotime-mp-governor-table-tennis-champion-5-points-on-cp-radhakrishnan-ndas-vp-pick-101755448868776.html|access-date=18 August 2025|work=[[The Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
===Vice Presidential elections===
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%;text-align:center"
!rowspan=2|Elections
!colspan=2 rowspan=2|Alliance
!rowspan=2|Result
!rowspan=2|Vote percentage
!colspan=4|Opposition
|-
!Candidate
!colspan=2|Alliance
!Vote percentage
|-
|[[2025 Indian vice presidential election|2025]]
|[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]]
|{{party color cell|National Democratic Alliance}}
|{{Won}}
|60.1%	
|[[B. Sudarshan Reddy]]
|[[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|INDIA]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance}}
|39.9%
|}

===Lok Sabha elections===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;text-align:center"
!rowspan=2|Elections
!rowspan=2|Lok Sabha
!rowspan=2|Constituency
!colspan=3 rowspan=2|Political party
!rowspan=2|Result
!rowspan=2|Vote percentage
!colspan=5|Opposition
|-
!Candidate
!colspan=3|Political party
!Vote percentage
|-
|[[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
|[[12th Lok Sabha|12th]]
|rowspan=5|[[Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency|Coimbatore]]
|rowspan=5|[[BJP]]
|rowspan=5|[[File:Lotus flower symbol.svg|20px]]
|rowspan=5 {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|rowspan=2 {{Won}}
|55.85%
|K. R. Subbian
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
|[[File:Indian election symbol rising sun.svg|20px]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|37.86%
|-
|[[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
|[[13th Lok Sabha|13th]]
|49.21%
|[[R. Nallakannu]]
|rowspan=2|[[Communist Party of India|CPI]]
|rowspan=2|[[File:CPI symbol.svg|20px]]
|rowspan=2 {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
|43.02%
|-
|[[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
|[[14th Lok Sabha|14th]]
|rowspan=3 {{Lost}}
|38.74%
|[[K. Subbarayan]]
|57.46%
|-
|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
|[[16th Lok Sabha|16th]]
|33.12%
|[[P. Nagarajan]]
|[[AIADMK]]
|[[File:Indian election symbol two leaves.svg|20px]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|36.69%
|-
|[[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
|[[17th Lok Sabha|17th]]
|31.34%
|[[P. R. Natarajan]]
|[[CPI(M)]]
|[[File:CPI(M) election symbol - Hammer Sickle and Star.svg|20px]]
|{{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|45.66%
|}

==Positions held==
===Parliament of India===
;Rajya Sabha
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
!rowspan=2|Elections
!rowspan=2|Position
!colspan=3|Term in office
|-
!Assumed office
!Left office
!Time in office
|-
|[[2025 Indian vice presidential election|2025]]
|[[Vice President of India|Chairman]]
|12 September 2025
|''Incumbent''
|{{age in years and days|2025|09|12}}
|}

;Lok Sabha
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
!rowspan=2|Elections
!rowspan=2|Position
!rowspan=2|Elected constituency
!colspan=3|Term in office
|-
!Assumed office
!Left office
!Time in office
|-
|[[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
|rowspan=2|[[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]]
|rowspan=2|[[Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency|Coimbatore]]
|23 March 1998
|26 April 1999
|{{age in years and days|1998|03|23|1999|04|26}}
|-
|[[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
|20 October 1999
|6 February 2004
|{{age in years and days|1999|10|20|2004|02|06}}
|}

==See also==
*[[List of governors of Jharkhand]]
*[[List of governors of Maharashtra]]
*[[List of governors of Telangana]]
*[[List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry]]
*[[Vice President of India]]
*[[List of vice presidents of India]]
*[[Governor (India)|Governors of India]]
*[[List of current governors of all Indian states|List of Governors of India]]
*[[2025 Indian vice presidential election]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
* {{commons-inline}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140112033819/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok12/biodata/12tn20.htm Official biographical sketch on the Parliament of India website] (12th Lok Sabha) (archived)
*[http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok13/biodata/13TN20.htm Official biographical sketch on the Parliament of India website] (13th Lok Sabha) (archived)
*[https://governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do Profile] on Governor of Telangana website. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20240328055108/http://www.governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do archived]).

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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Jharkhand|Governor of Jharkhand]]|years=2023–2024}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Telangana|Governor of Telangana]]|years=2024}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Maharashtra|Governor of Maharashtra]]|years=2024–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Acharya Devvrat]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Jagdeep Dhankhar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice President of India]]|years=2025–present}}
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{{s-par|in-lwr}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency|Coimbatore]] |years=1998–2004}}
{{s-aft|after=[[K. Subbarayan]]}}
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{{Vice presidents of India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radhakrishnan, C. P.}}
[[Category:Vice presidents of India]]
[[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:India MPs 1998–1999]]
[[Category:Politicians from Coimbatore]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:National Democratic Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Governors of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Governors of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Governors of Telangana]]
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Puducherry]]
[[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Indian Tamil politicians]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]