Col. (retd.) Dinesh Ramaswamy C.P. Radhakrishnan was sworn in as the 15th Vice President of India on 12 September 2025, following his decisive victory in the midterm election held on 9 September. A senior BJP leader and former Governor of Maharashtra, Radhakrishnan defeated joint opposition nominee and former Supreme Court Justice B. Sudershan Reddy by a margin of 152 votes—securing 452 votes out of 781 from the electoral college of MPs. The election was required after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned unexpectedly in July 2025 citing health concerns, although speculation about political reasons persists.
Radhakrishnan’s win was solidified by the support of NDA and YSRCP, with some cross-voting from opposition ranks suspected. He is renowned for his parliamentary experience, administrative record, and advocacy for constitutional principles. After the swearing-in at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Radhakrishnan described his election as a “victory of nationalistic ideology,” pledging to serve all Indians and work towards the government’s vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.
Full List of Indian Vice Presidents (1952–2025)
| No. | Name | Tenure | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | 1952–1962 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| 2 | Dr. Zakir Husain | 1962–1967 | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan |
| 3 | V.V. Giri | 1967–1969 | Dr. Zakir Husain |
| 4 | Gopal Swarup Pathak | 1969–1974 | V.V. Giri |
| 5 | B.D. Jatti | 1974–1979 | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Neelam S. Reddy |
| 6 | M. Hidayatullah | 1979–1984 | Neelam S. Reddy, Giani Zail Singh |
| 7 | R. Venkataraman | 1984–1987 | Giani Zail Singh |
| 8 | Shankar Dayal Sharma | 1987–1992 | R. Venkataraman |
| 9 | K.R. Narayanan | 1992–1997 | S.D. Sharma |
| 10 | Krishan Kant | 1997–2002 | K.R. Narayanan |
| 11 | Bhairon Singh Shekhawat | 2002–2007 | A.P.J. Abdul Kalam |
| 12 | Mohammad Hamid Ansari | 2007–2017 | Pratibha Patil, Pranab Mukherjee |
| 13 | M. Venkaiah Naidu | 2017–2022 | Ram Nath Kovind |
| 14 | Jagdeep Dhankhar | 2022–2025 (Resigned) | Droupadi Murmu |
| 15 | C.P. Radhakrishnan | 2025– | Droupadi Murmu |
Profile of the Current (15th) Vice President: C.P. Radhakrishnan
Age: 68
Background: Senior BJP leader, former MP for Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu; Governor of Maharashtra
Known For: Parliamentary committee work, track record in government reforms, championing constitutional protocols
Election Details: Sworn-in on 12 September 2025. Secured victory with broad NDA support and cross-party voting.
Public Priorities: Radhakrishnan’s public statements highlight his vision for national unity and fast-tracking the development agenda to achieve “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. He’s seen as a consensus-builder with strong administrative credentials.
Excerpt
India’s 15th Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan, brings decades of public service and constitutional commitment to the role, taking office in a politically charged midterm election. With roots in both central administration and parliamentary leadership, his tenure will shape the next chapter of India’s constitutional and developmental journey.
