NEW DELHI: (Sep 9) Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, a seasoned leader with deep ties to the RSS and BJP, was elected as India's 15th Vice President on Tuesday, becoming the third Tamil Nadu leader to hold this prestigious office.

Known for his calm and approachable demeanor, the 67-year-old Radhakrishnan succeeds Jagdeep Dhankhar, who unexpectedly resigned on July 21. Radhakrishnan, fondly called a 'Pachai Tamizhan' (true Tamil) by supporters, was serving as Maharashtra's Governor when the BJP-led NDA nominated him for the vice presidency.

A former two-term Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, Radhakrishnan narrowly missed a Union minister role in 1998 due to a mix-up with another Tamil leader, Pon Radhakrishnan. Beginning his journey with the RSS as a teenager, he rose through its ranks and later in the BJP, earning widespread respect in Tamil Nadu and the party.

Hailing from the influential Kongu Vellalar Gounder community, Radhakrishnan served as Tamil Nadu BJP secretary in 1996 and state president from 2003 to 2006. His extensive political and administrative experience, including gubernatorial roles in Jharkhand, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Puducherry, equips him to serve effectively as Vice President and ex officio Rajya Sabha Chairman.

An enthusiastic sportsperson, Radhakrishnan excelled in table tennis and long-distance running in college and enjoys cricket and volleyball. His unblemished reputation and legislative expertise were praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who highlighted his incisive parliamentary contributions and focus on public welfare during his gubernatorial tenures. Modi expressed confidence that Radhakrishnan would be an inspiring Vice President.

As the first OBC leader from South India to hold this office, Radhakrishnan’s candidacy counters key Opposition narratives. His official NDA profile emphasizes his eminence, knowledge, and clean record.

Radhakrishnan’s political career began with the RSS and Jan Sangh, evolving through student politics into a lifelong commitment to public service. He served as Maharashtra’s Governor from July 31, 2024, after a stint as Jharkhand’s Governor. Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Joining the RSS at 16, Radhakrishnan became a Bharatiya Janasangh state executive member in 1974. As Tamil Nadu BJP president from 2004 to 2007, he led a 19,000-km, 93-day 'Rath Yatra' to advocate for issues like river interlinking, eradicating terrorism, a uniform civil code, ending untouchability, and tackling drug abuse—core agendas of the BJP and RSS. His diverse experience positions him to make history as Vice President.