CP RADHAKRISHNAN – 15TH VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

Current Context: CP Radhakrishnan has been elected as the 15th Vice President of India after defeating opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy in the 2025 elections. The election witnessed 98.3% turnout, with NDA’s majority ensuring a decisive victory.

ABOUT CP RADHAKRISHNAN

• Full Name: Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan
• Born: 20 October 1957, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu
• Political Career:
  • Two-time Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore (1998, 1999)
  • Former Tamil Nadu BJP president
  • Served on various Parliamentary Committees
  • Chaired Coir Board (2016–2020) – coir exports hit record highs
  • BJP’s Kerala in-charge (2020–2022)
  • Served as Governor of Jharkhand

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

• Constitutional Position: Second-highest constitutional office in India
• Articles:
  • Article 63 – India shall have a Vice-President
  • Article 64 – Vice-President is Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
  • Article 65 – Acts as President in case of vacancy
• Election Process:
  • Electoral College: Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (both elected and nominated)
  • Voting: Proportional Representation via Single Transferable Vote; secret ballot
  • Equal Vote Value: Every MP’s vote carries equal weight
  • No Whip: Anti-Defection Law not applicable
• Eligibility (Article 66):
  • Citizen of India, at least 35 years of age
  • Eligible to be a Rajya Sabha member
  • Must not hold an office of profit