BJP's CPR is the new VP of India - A strong RSS man, former governor of Jharkhand and two times MP from southern state of Coimbatore, defeated opposition candidate Sudershan Reddy - CPR will also be the Chairman of the upper house Rajya Sabha

CP Radhakrishnan Appointed Telangana Governor as Tamilisai Resigns ...

BJP's CP Radhakrishnan defeats INDIA Blocs' candidate Justice Sudershan Reddy by 63 votes to win the elections to become the new Vice President of India. He will also function as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, upper house of India's bi-cameral legislature. The lower house is termed as Lok Sabha where the chair is Om Birla. Vice Presidential elections were caused by the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankaar under mysterious circumstances though he cited medical reasons for quitting. Critics suggested that his admission of a motion by opposition parties for censuring a high court judge accused of corruptiopn led to his ouster.

Who Is C. P. Radhakrishnan? A Quiet Strategist

Sixtyeight year old Chandrapuram Ponnusamy “C.P.” Radhakrishna (born October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu” has been elected as the Vice President of India filling the void created by the abrupt resignation by predecessor Jagdeep Dhankar citing health reasons though political mystery surrounded his decision.

Sudershan Reddy, eminent Jurist, INDIA bloc candidate lost the election by about 63 votes.

Jagdeep Dhankar, previous incumbent, who quit the post citing health reasons created the vaccum calling for elections to fill up the high constitutional post.

CPR, is a seasoned RSS stalwart turned BJP politician. A university graduate in Business Administration, he joined the RSS as a teenager and steadily rose within the BJP, notably serving twice as MP from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999, aided by shifting alliances with AIADMK and DMK. Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, a controversial hindu nationalist outfit , is the backbone of the BJP and the striking ground force of the party that mobilises an army of workers to win elections for the PM Modi led party in India.

Later, he served as Tamil Nadu BJP chief (2004–07), and was appointed Governor of Jharkhand (February 2023–July 2024) and then Maharashtra (since July 2024) . Analysts describe him as “decent,” “friendly,” “unassuming,” and “100 percent RSS”—a disciplined, low-key figure with deep ideological roots.

In the 2025 vice-presidential election, the NDA nominated him on August 17, and by September 9 he had won, defeating INDIA bloc candidate Justice B. Sudershan Reddy in a contest where numbers were decisively in NDA’s favor (NDA ~427 MPs; opposition ~354; abstentions from BJD and BRS tipped the balance)

Signals Beyond the Numbers: What His Election Means

TN BJP leader Radhakrishnan appointed Jharkhand Guv

Southward Reach & Regional Inclusion

Choosing a Tamil Nadu OBC leader like Radhakrishnan sends a clear signal of the BJP’s intent to deepen its inroads into southern politics—especially with Tamil Nadu heading to assembly polls next year. Elevating someone from the Gounder (OBC) community also flags B-level reservation politics and regional representation. It marks the first VP from the South since Venkaiah Naidu (2017–22), correcting perceived under-representation.

RSS Loyalty and Institutional Messaging

A lifelong RSS functionary assuming a top constitutional role underscores the growing alignment between the BJP-RSS ideological core and high offices. Critics, such as Congress’s Manickam Tagore, decried this, calling it “another RSS man fielded” and seeing it as a further consolidation of ideological control over institutions.

Personality Over Polarization

Radhakrishnan’s reputation for affability, moderation, and crosscutting acceptability (a DMK leader once called him “a good man in the wrong party”) paints a style distinct from Jagdeep Dhankhar’s confrontational approach. His background offers a tone of institutional balance rather than ideological theatrics.

Can a BJP Backer Be an Impartial Rajya Sabha Chair?

As Vice President, Radhakrishnan steps into the dual role of second highest constitutional authority and Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. His party roots raise legitimate questions about impartiality. But his record offers reassurances:

  • As Governor of Jharkhand, he emphasized that Governors should transcend party loyalty and focus on development, positioning himself as a bridge between state and Centre.

  • Despite ideological alignment, he was largely seen as neutral, unlike more partisan predecessors.

  • His calm, low-key reputation may help him moderate the increasingly polarized Upper House—though real tests lie ahead, especially with governance issues heating up.

His ability to embody neutrality will depend on his conduct in RS rules, decorum, and crisis moments. His trajectory suggests institutional respect, but his ideological origins mean vigilance.

Reactions at Home

Tamil Nadu’s Divided Landscape

  • AIADMK’s Support: Tamilisai Soundararajan (BJP), a former governor of Telengana, lamented that while the nation accepted “their own” in Radhakrishnan, “some selfish politicians” in Tamil Nadu opposed him—a jibe likely at DMK leadership, for supporting INDIA Bloc candidate Justice Sudershan Reddy, a non tamil.

    DMK’s Resistance: CM M.K. Stalin framed him as a symbolic “Tamil face” of the BJP, rejecting populist appeal and backing Reddy for his constitutional defense credentials.

Jharkhand’s Mixed Memories

  • Praise: Sanjay K. Mishra (civil society) commended Radhakrishnan’s activism against child trafficking.

  • Criticism: Congress and JMM criticized his tenure as lacking impact—or worse, ideologically aligned—e.g., university “saffronisation”.

Other Political Voices

  • Samajwadi Party: Akhilesh Yadav lauded the opposition candidate and accused BJP of ideological capture of offices—including the Vice Presidency.

  • KTR , son of former CM Chandrasekhar Reddy, is the rising force in BRS, tipped to be a CM candidates. He is an IT expert returned from US.

  • BRS Abstention: In Telangana, BRS abstained from voting—citing farmer grievances (especially urea crisis) rather than taking a stand on the candidates.

Any Global or External Reactions?

As of now, there’s little to no international commentary or global spotlight on Radhakrishnan's vice-presidency. Vice President elections in India tend to attract limited global attention unless tied to foreign policy or diplomatic shifts. None of the sources flagged any noteworthy international response.

Summing Up: The Analytical Perspective

Symbolic Reach: Radhakrishnan’s election underlines BJP’s strategic play—melding regional representation (Tamil Nadu, OBC) with ideological consolidation (RSS loyalty) while attempting to project moderation.

Institutional Expectations: His personal style and gubernatorial record point toward a poised, non-combative chair for the Rajya Sabha. Yet his ideological imprint means institutions and opposition will broadly expect—rightly—a firm commitment to constitutional neutrality.

Domestic Divide: Regional responses range from congratulatory (AIADMK, BJP) to skeptical (DMK, opposition parties). His tenure could become a litmus test of the BJP’s ability to marry ideological depth with institution-building.

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