C P Radhakrishnan takes oath as 15th Vice President of India

New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and former Governor of Maharashtra, C.P. Radhakrishnan, was sworn in as the 15th Vice-President of India at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu.

Mr. Radhakrishnan succeeds Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose term ended earlier this month. As Vice-President, he will also serve as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

A seasoned politician with roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mr. Radhakrishnan has held several key positions in his political career, including two consecutive terms as Member of Parliament from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999, and as Tamil Nadu BJP president from 2004 to 2007. He also served as the Governor of Jharkhand before being appointed to Maharashtra in 2024.

Widely regarded as a leader with both ideological clarity and administrative acumen, Mr. Radhakrishnan’s elevation to the Vice-Presidency is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to strengthen its presence in southern India, particularly Tamil Nadu, where he has maintained considerable influence.

Dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and leaders from various political parties, were present at the swearing-in ceremony.