Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, popularly known as CP Radhakrishnan, is a seasoned Indian politician whose journey from grassroots activism to constitutional authority reflects a life dedicated to public service.
Born on 20 October 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan embraced political activism early, joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political forerunner the Bharatiya Jana Sangh at just 17 WikipediaThe Economic Times. Holding a BBA from V. O. Chidambaram College in Thoothukudi, he also found prominence as a college table tennis champion Wikipedia.
His political career took root in Tamil Nadu, where he served as President of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit from 2003 to 2006 Wikipedia. Radhakrishnan also represented the Coimbatore constituency in the Lok Sabha, winning elections in 1998 and 1999 Wikipediawww.ndtv.com.
Transitioning from parliamentary politics, he took on influential administrative roles: Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023, later holding additional charges as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry in early 2024. By July 2024, he was appointed Governor of Maharashtra Wikipediahttps://www.oneindia.com/rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in.
On 17 August 2025, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) officially nominated CP Radhakrishnan as the alliance’s candidate for the Vice-President of India, with the election slated for 9 September 2025 The Times of India+1The Indian ExpressThe Economic Times. His nomination draws attention in Tamil Nadu and beyond—not only for his long political track record and RSS roots but also as a symbolic representation of the region’s integration into high constitutional offices The Economic Times+1www.ndtv.com.
Radhakrishnan’s political trajectory is marked by resilience, grassroots engagement, and administrative versatility—earning respect across party lines and from regional allies. His candidacy has garnered support from various quarters, including YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh, bolstering the NDA’s strength ahead of the polls The Times of India.
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