CP Radhakrishnan takes oath as India’s 15th Vice President
New Delhi: India’s Vice-President-elect Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan will be formally sworn in today, Friday, September 12, at a ceremony scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office.
This marks the formal beginning of Radhakrishnan’s tenure as the 15th Vice-President of India, following his election earlier this week.
High-profile swearing-in ceremony
The government has invited top political leaders, including Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, to attend the event. Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose resignation on July 21 prompted the election, is also expected to be present.
Radhakrishnan, 68, is a seasoned political leader and former Governor of Maharashtra. His election came after he defeated the joint Opposition candidate and former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy by a margin of 152 votes.
According to ANI, the NDA had a solid support base of 427 MPs. Additional support from 11 YSR Congress MPs helped Radhakrishnan exceed expectations, sparking speculation of possible cross-voting by Opposition MPs. Thirteen MPs, including members from the BJD, BRS, SAD, and one Independent, abstained from voting.
Floor leaders' meeting after swearing-in
Shortly after the swearing-in, Radhakrishnan has called a meeting of all Rajya Sabha floor leaders at 12:30 p.m., a move that was communicated to parties late Thursday evening. The sudden notice has reportedly left some political leaders scrambling, as many are currently away in their constituencies.
Following his election as Vice-President, Radhakrishnan formally resigned as Governor of Maharashtra on Thursday. In his place, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has been given additional charge of Maharashtra until further notice, as per an official communication from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Dignitaries arriving in Delhi
Several key leaders and governors from across the country arrived in Delhi to attend the ceremony, including:
- Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi
- Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot
- Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu
- Punjab Governor & Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria
- Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar
- Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav
Radhakrishnan now takes office as both Vice-President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar in both capacities.