August 18, 2025

Hold on to your hats! The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced Maharashtra Governor Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan as their candidate for the Vice President of India. This is not a new kid on the block. Radhakrishnan boasts over 40 years of bold political adventures and public service! Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, he started young as an RSS Swayamsevak and climbed the ranks as a State Executive Committee Member of the Bharatiya Janasangh way back in 1974. His political rocket took off in 1996 as BJP Secretary in Tamil Nadu. Soon after, he rocked the Lok Sabha by winning the Coimbatore seat twice, in 1998 and 1999. Radhakrishnan wasn’t just an MP; he was a workhorse. He led the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Textiles and got involved in mighty important groups like the Public Sector Undertakings and Finance committees. Guess what? He was also in the special team probing the famous Stock Exchange Scam. Talk about serious business! The man is a globe-trotter too. In 2004, he spoke at the UN General Assembly and was part of India’s first ever parliamentary team to visit Taiwan. From 2004 to 2007, as Tamil Nadu BJP President, he wowed people with a massive 93-day, 19,000 km 'Ratha Yatra'. This campaign was bursting with big ideas: linking India’s rivers, scrapping terrorism, pushing a uniform civil code, ending untouchability, and fighting drug abuse. On top of that, he led two more exciting padayatras for different causes. In 2016, he took charge as Chairman of the Coir Board in Kochi. Under his watch, India’s coir exports hit a record Rs 2,532 crore. Between 2020-22, he handled BJP’s campaign in Kerala nationwide. Fast forward to 2023, Radhakrishnan became Jharkhand’s Governor and traveled all 24 districts like a whirlwind, meeting citizens and officials alike. He even briefly wore extra hats as Governor of Telangana and Lt. Governor of Puducherry. Recently, on July 31, 2024, he was sworn in as Maharashtra's Governor. When not busy with politics, this sports buff enjoys table tennis, long-distance running, cricket, and volleyball—he was even a college champion in table tennis! His passport reads like a world map: USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Egypt, UAE, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan—you name it, he’s been there. Now, with the NDA’s Vice Presidential nomination, C.P. Radhakrishnan’s blend of grassroots love, solid parliamentary chops, and gubernatorial wisdom makes him a fiery and seasoned contender in India’s political arena. Buckle up, politics fans—this ride just got spicier!

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Tags: Chandrapuram ponnusamy radhakrishnan, Vice president of india, Nda candidate, Bjp leader, Maharashtra governor, Indian politics,