Tiruppur’s beloved son

C.P. Radhakrishnan, the beloved son of Tiruppur, has been elected as the Vice President of India. Kerala too can take pride in seeing a gentle and respected leader from our neighbouring state reach this high position. Celebrations in Tiruppur, with fireworks and sweet distribution, looked like an early Diwali. The election itself was unexpected. Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned, citing health reasons, which opened the way for senior leader C.P. Radhakrishnan, who has grown within the Sangh Parivar background of South India, to be chosen for the post.

As the NDA candidate, Radhakrishnan won with support even from outside his own alliance. Of the 767 votes polled, he secured 452 votes, while the opposition candidate, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy, managed only 300 votes. Fifteen votes were declared invalid.

In a democracy, such elections are good, but when it comes to the highest constitutional posts, the opposition should show the wisdom to avoid contesting if there is no chance of victory.

This would save unnecessary expenses and preparations, while also sending a message of unity. Instead, the contest exposed internal divisions within the opposition. The INDIA bloc had expected 324 votes but fell short, while the NDA secured more than anticipated, indicating cross-voting since the ballot was secret.

As Vice President, who also chairs the Rajya Sabha, Radhakrishnan will face challenges in handling disruptions and noisy protests in the House. However, his long political experience—including his time in the RSS, BJP, and as Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand—has been free of controversy and marked by maintaining a peaceful political atmosphere. This is expected to help him perform effectively as Vice President.

Radhakrishnan also has personal connections with several leaders in Kerala, not just from the BJP but across political parties, as well as with Christian religious heads, community leaders, and even leading sports figures. First elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in 1998, Radhakrishnan most recently served as Governor of Maharashtra. His elevation to Vice President comes as a surprise, but one that is welcomed. With his background, many believe Tiruppur’s beloved son will serve as a fair, impartial, and effective Vice President.