NEW DELHI: C.P. Radhakrishnan was on Friday sworn in as the 15th Vice-President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of several dignitaries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Vice-Presidents Jagdeep Dhankhar and Hamid Ansari, cabinet Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attended the ceremony. Interestingly former Vice President Dhankhar made his first public appearance since his resignation on July 21, citing health reasons. Nevertheless, he did not look sick.
Dhankhar, accompanied by his wife Sudesh Dhankhar, was seated in the front row along with Ansari, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He stayed on for tea after the ceremony, where he was greeted by cabinet colleagues and engaged by Opposition leaders on his health.
According to sources, there was some disquiet over seating arrangements. Kharge was placed in the second row, while floor leaders of other Opposition parties were seated in the fifth row. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was seated in the fourth row.
At the conclusion of the event, Modi posted on X: “Attended the oath-taking ceremony of Thiru C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji. A dedicated public servant, he has devoted his life to nation-building, social service, and strengthening democratic values. Wishing him a successful Vice-Presidential tenure, dedicated to the service of the people.”
After taking the oath of office, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. He also paid homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Sadaiv Atal.
Radhakrishnan emerged victorious in the Vice Presidential elections held on the 9th of this month. NDA nominee Radhakrishnan bagged 452 votes, defeating the I.N.D.I.A. bloc candidate and former Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy by a margin of 152 votes.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Vice President CP Radhakrishnan a successful Vice Presidential tenure, dedicated to the service of the people. In a social media post, Modi called Radhakrishnan, a dedicated public servant and said that he has devoted his life to nation-building, social service and strengthening democratic values.
Born in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan began his political journey as a student leader. He was actively involved in organisations such as the RSS. Since then, he has used politics as a medium to serve the public. He was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore.
Radhakrishnan has also served as Governor of Jharkhand, Telangana, Maharashtra and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. An agriculturist and industrialist by profession, he is admired for his integrity, vision, and unblemished public life. As Mr Radhakrishnan takes over as the Vice President, he will also be the third leader from Tamil Nadu to occupy the coveted post.
Later in the day, Radhakrishnan held a meeting with floor leaders of parties in Parliament. The Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) skipped the meeting, citing short notice. Radhakrishnan reportedly told members he intended to take the Opposition along in running the House. “I am very patient,” he is learnt to have said, noting his long experience as an Opposition leader in Tamil Nadu. He emphasised that the Opposition is an essential element of parliamentary democracy. During the interaction, he also recalled his political journey, prompting some leaders to remind him that his grandfather was aligned with the Left while his uncle was with the Congress.
At Parliament House, he was welcomed by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministers of State Arjun Ram Meghwal and L. Murugan, and Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P.C. Mody. He also planted a sapling in the Parliament complex in the presence of Ministers and Rajya Sabha officials.
