NDA's Candidate Radhakrishnan Brings Extensive Political Experience for Vice President Election

Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan is the NDA's candidate for Vice President, leveraging his extensive political experience and OBC representation from South India to strengthen his candidacy.

Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, known as the "Modi of Tamil Nadu" by his supporters, is the BJP and NDA's candidate for the vice-presidency. He has a rich political background, having been elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in the late 1990s. His experience will be valuable as he takes on the role of vice-president and ex officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Radhakrishnan's political journey began with his involvement in the RSS and Jan Sangh during his teenage years. He later ventured into student politics, using it as a platform to serve the public. His career highlights include serving as a governor in multiple states, including Jharkhand, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Puducherry. He was sworn in as Maharashtra's governor on July 31, 2024.

Political Achievements and Contributions

Radhakrishnan's political career includes significant roles such as being a member of various parliamentary committees during his tenure as an MP. He was part of a committee investigating a stock market scam. From 2004 to 2007, he served as Tamil Nadu BJP president, where he led a 19,000 km Rath Yatra over 93 days to promote key BJP and RSS agendas.

His candidacy for vice-president aims to counter opposition narratives by highlighting his status as the first OBC leader from South India nominated for this position. An official profile describes him as eminent and free from legal accusations. His track record suggests he is poised to make history in this new role.

Early Life and Education

Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan holds a Bachelor's degree in business administration. He started as an RSS swayamsevak at 16 and became a state executive committee member of the Bharatiya Janasangh in 1974. In 1996, he was appointed secretary of the BJP in Tamil Nadu.

Radhakrishnan's electoral success began with his first Lok Sabha win from Coimbatore in 1998 by over 1.5 lakh votes. He was re-elected in 1999 but faced defeat in subsequent elections. Despite these setbacks, he remains respected across party lines in Tamil Nadu.

Personal Interests and Recent Activities

Apart from politics, Radhakrishnan is an avid sportsperson who excelled in table tennis and long-distance running during college. He also enjoys cricket and volleyball. Recently, he visited Tamil Nadu for various events and met Chief Minister M K Stalin ahead of next year's assembly elections.

The vice-presidential election is scheduled for September 9 following Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation last month. The deadline for filing nominations is August 21. Radhakrishnan's extensive experience in governance and politics positions him well for this new challenge.

With inputs from PTI