C. P. Radhakrishnan
{{Short description|Indian politician }}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = C. P. Radhakrishnan
| image = C. P. Radhakrishnan (cropped).png
| office = 24th Governor of Maharashtra
| term_end =
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = Eknath Shinde
| 2blankname = Dy Chief Ministers
| 2namedata = {{ubl|Devendra Fadnavis|Ajit Pawar|Eknath Shinde}}
| predecessor = Ramesh Bais
| office1 = 10th Governor of Jharkhand
| term_start1 = 18 February 2023{{Cite web |title = C.P. Radhakrishnan takes oath as Jharkhand Governor|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cp-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-jharkhand-governor/article66524298.ece |website= The Hindu|date=18 February 2023 }}
| term_end1 = 30 July 2024{{Cite web |title = Santosh Kumar Gangwar sworn in as Jharkhand Governor|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jharkhand/santosh-kumar-gangwar-sworn-in-as-jharkhand-governor-2-3129975 |website= Deccan Herald|date=31 July 2024 }}
| 1blankname1 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1 = *Hemant Soren
| predecessor1 = Ramesh Bais
| successor1 = Santosh Gangwar
| office2 = Governor of Telangana
| status2 = (Additional Charge)
| term_start2 = 20 March 2024{{Cite web |title = Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan takes charge as Telangana governor|url=https://www.newsonair.gov.in/jharkhand-governor-c-p-radhakrishnan-to-take-charge-as-governor-of-telangana/ |website= News on AIR|date=20 March 2024 }}
| 1blankname2 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2 = Anumula Revanth Reddy
| 2blankname2 = Dy Chief Minister
| 2namedata2 = Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka
| predecessor2 = Tamilisai Soundarrajan
| successor2 = Jishnu Dev Varma
| office3 = Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry
| status3 = (Additional Charge)
| term_start3 = 22 March 2024{{Cite web |title = C.P. Radhakrishnan assumes charge of Lt. Governor of Puducherry|url=https://www.newsonair.gov.in/c-p-radhakrishnan-assumes-charge-of-lt-governor-of-puducherry/ |website= News on AIR|date=22 March 2024 }}
| term_end3 = 6 August 2024{{Cite web |title = Kailashnathan sworn-in as Lt. Governor of Puducherry|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/kailashnathan-sworn-in-as-lt-governor-of-puducherry/article68495970.ece|website= The Hindu|date=7 August 2024 }}
| 1blankname3 = Prime Minister
| 1namedata3 = Narendra Modi
| 2blankname3 = Chief Minister
| 2namedata3 = N. Rangaswamy
| predecessor3 = Tamilisai Soundararajan
| successor3 = Kuniyil Kailashnathan
| office4 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| primeminister4 =
| constituency4 = Coimbatore
| term_start4 = 1998
| term_end4 = 2004
| preceded4 = M. Ramanathan
| succeeded4 = K. Subbarayan
| office5 = 7th President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamil Nadu
| term_start5 = 2003
| term_end5 = 2006
| predecessor5 = S. P. Kirubanidhi
| successor5 = La. Ganesan
| occupation = Agriculturist and politician
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|20 October 1957}}
| birth_place = Tiruppur, Madras State (present–day Tamil Nadu), India
| residence = {{plain list|
- Raj Bhavan, Mumbai (official residence)
- Raj Bhavan, Nagpur (second residence)
- Raj Bhavan, Pune (monsoon)
- Raj Bhavan, Mahabaleshwar (summer)
}}
| spouse = R. Sumathi
| party = Bharatiya Janata Party
| alma_mater = V.O. Chidambaram College
| alt = C. P. Radhakrishnan
}}
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan (born 20 October 1957) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 24th and current Governor of Maharashtra since 31 July 2024. He also served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024, and as the Governor of Telangana (Additional Charge) and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry (Additional Charge) between March 2024 to July 2024.{{Cite news |last= |date=2023-02-18 |title=C.P. Radhakrishnan takes oath as Jharkhand Governor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cp-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-jharkhand-governor/article66524298.ece |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218082022/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cp-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-jharkhand-governor/article66524298.ece |archive-date=2023-02-18 |access-date=2024-06-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |title=Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan - Hon'ble Governor of Jharkhand |url=https://rajbhavanjharkhand.nic.in/the_governer.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303170044/https://rajbhavanjharkhand.nic.in/the_governer.html |archive-date=2024-03-03 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Governor of Jharkhand}} He was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore twice. He was also the former state president of the BJP for Tamil Nadu.{{cite news |date=29 July 2013 |title=BJP: give scholarship to Hindu students |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/bjp-give-scholarship-to-hindu-students/article4965524.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235334/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/bjp-give-scholarship-to-hindu-students/article4965524.ece |archive-date=2013-12-30 |accessdate=2013-12-28 |newspaper=The Hindu |location=Nagercoil}}
Political career
Radhakrishnan has been associated with the organizations like the RSS and the Jan Sangh from the age of 16.{{cite news |date=2024-03-19 |title=From Tamil Nadu BJP Leader To Governor Of Two States: Know Political Journey Of CP Radhakrishnan |url=https://news.abplive.com/states/cp-radhakrishnan-tamil-nadu-bjp-leader-to-jharkhand-telangana-lt-puducherry-governor-two-states-political-journey-1673038 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323134716/https://news.abplive.com/states/cp-radhakrishnan-tamil-nadu-bjp-leader-to-jharkhand-telangana-lt-puducherry-governor-two-states-political-journey-1673038 |archive-date=2024-03-23 |access-date=2024-03-23 |work=ABP News}}
He is a two-time member of the Lok Sabha.{{cite news|title=Verdict not a surprise, says Radhakrishnan|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/verdict-not-a-surprise-says-radhakrishnan/article1935922.ece|accessdate=29 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 October 2007|location=Coimbatore|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235008/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/verdict-not-a-surprise-says-radhakrishnan/article1935922.ece|url-status=live}} He contested as a member of the BJP in the 1998 and 1999 general elections in the aftermath of the 1998 Coimbatore bombings.{{cite news|last=KV|first=Prasad|title=BJP will have to start from scratch|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/bjp-will-have-to-start-from-scratch/article3128814.ece|accessdate=28 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=5 May 2006|location=Coimbatore|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234724/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/bjp-will-have-to-start-from-scratch/article3128814.ece|url-status=live}} He won by a margin of over 150,000 votes in the 1998 election and a margin of 55,000 in the 1999 elections.{{cite news |title=Key Contests : CP Radhakrishnan vs K Subbarayan |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/key-contests-cp-radhakrishnan-vs-k-subbarayan-104050101072_1.html |date=1 May 2004 |work=Business Standard |location=Coimbatore |accessdate=8 January 2014 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108134731/http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/key-contests-cp-radhakrishnan-vs-k-subbarayan-104050101072_1.html |url-status=live }}
In 1999, he stated that voters in Coimbatore did not need convincing to vote for the BJP.{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/09coim.htm |title=It's the party that sells, not candidates! |date=September 1999 |accessdate=8 January 2014 |location=Coimbatore |archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108142733/http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/09coim.htm |url-status=live }}
In 2004, he stated that the BJP did not stab any party in the back or cause rifts in ties with other parties.{{cite news |title= It's for DMK to explain,says C.P. Radhakrishnan |url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/05/13/stories/2003051305250400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108154529/http://www.hindu.com/2003/05/13/stories/2003051305250400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2014 |date=13 May 2003 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai |accessdate=8 January 2014}} He was among state leaders who worked on forming alliances in 2004 after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ended its ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.{{cite news |title= Vajpayee invites BJP leaders to Delhi for talks |url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/14/stories/2003091408180400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031027142032/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/14/stories/2003091408180400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2003 |date=14 September 2003 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai |accessdate=8 January 2014}} Radhakrishnan later worked with the state unit to forge ties with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the 2004 elections.{{cite news |title=TN BJP invites AIADMK to return to NDA |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan032004/n1.asp |date=3 January 2004 |work=Deccan Herald |location=Chennai |accessdate=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108142055/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan032004/n1.asp |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}
He was also part of a parliamentary delegation to the United Nations in 2004. He addressed the 58th session of the UN General Assembly during this visit, on 20 October 2003. He spoke about strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations.{{Cite web |title=Statement by Hon'ble Mr. C. P. Radhakrishnan, Member of Parliament and Member of the Indian Delegation at the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly on October 20, 2003 |url=https://pminewyork.gov.in/pdf/uploadpdf/4115715.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323142633/https://pminewyork.gov.in/pdf/uploadpdf/4115715.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-23 |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Permanent Mission of India to the UN, New York}}
He was the state president for BJP Tamil Nadu from 2004 till 2007. As the president, he took a rath yathra (chariot journey) for 93 days, advocating the linkage of Indian rivers, eradicating untouchability and campaigning against terrorism in India, among others. He covered all the constituencies of Tamil Nadu during this yatra.{{Cite web |title=Raj Bhavan |url=https://governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328055108/http://www.governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do |archive-date=2024-03-28 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Raj Bhavan}}{{Cite news |date=2003-06-24 |title=Two-month awareness yatra by TN BJP chief |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/two-month-awareness-yatra-by-tn-bjp-chief/articleshow/41575.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328055825/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/two-month-awareness-yatra-by-tn-bjp-chief/articleshow/41575.cms |archive-date=2024-03-28 |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
In 2012, Radhakrishnan courted arrest in Mettupalayam for protesting inaction against culprits who had assaulted a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist.{{cite news |title=Normality returns to Mettupalayam |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/normality-returns-to-mettupalayam/article4078605.ece |date=9 November 2012 |work=The Hindu |location=Udhagamandalam |accessdate=8 January 2014 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108143238/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/normality-returns-to-mettupalayam/article4078605.ece |url-status=live }}
He was named the BJP candidate for Lok Sabha from Coimbatore Constituency in 2014, and without the alliance of the biggest parties of Tamil Nadu, the DMK and the AIADMK, he secured second place with over 3,89,000 votes, the highest among the Tamil Nadu BJP candidates, losing by the smallest margin among all candidates in Tamil Nadu. He was named the party's candidate once again for the 2019 election from Coimbatore.{{cite news |last1=Madhavan |first1=Karthik |date=22 March 2019 |title=Familiar faces to fight it out in Coimbatore |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/familiar-faces-to-fight-it-out-in-coimbatore/article26613617.ece |accessdate=24 March 2019 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |archive-date=28 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128161556/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/familiar-faces-to-fight-it-out-in-coimbatore/article26613617.ece |url-status=live }}
He was a member of the first parliamentary delegation to Taiwan in 2014, representing the Government of India.{{Cite web |title=BIO-DATA-Shri.-CPR |url=http://coirboard.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BIO-DATA-Shri.-CPR.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323142241/http://coirboard.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BIO-DATA-Shri.-CPR.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-23 |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Coir Board}}
In 2020, he was appointed the BJP Prabhari (In-charge) for Kerala. He held the position till 2022.
He was the chairman of the All India Coir Board, which comes under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, from 2016 to 2020.{{Cite web |title=Coirboard |url=http://coirboard.gov.in/?page_id=34 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627113940/http://coirboard.gov.in/?page_id=34 |archive-date=2018-06-27 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=coirboard.gov.in}} He was a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) from 1998 to 2004 and a member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Finance.{{cite news |last=Ranjan |first=Mukesh |date=2023-02-19 |title=C P Radhakrishnan takes oath as 11th Governor of Jharkhand |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/Feb/19/c-p-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-11th-governor-of-jharkhand-2548886.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324000625/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/feb/19/c-p-radhakrishnan-takes-oath-as-11th-governor-of-jharkhand-2548886.html |archive-date=2023-03-24 |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=Indian Express}}
Until recently, he was the National Executive Member of the BJP. He is one of the most respected and senior-most leaders of BJP from South India, and is often called the "Modi of Tamil Nadu".{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Senior BJP leader CP Radhakrishnan appointed Jharkhand Guv {{!}} Northeast Herald |url=https://www.northeastherald.in/national/senior-bjp-leader-cp-radhakrishnan-appointed-jharkhand-guv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319081415/https://www.northeastherald.in/national/senior-bjp-leader-cp-radhakrishnan-appointed-jharkhand-guv |archive-date=19 March 2024 |access-date=19 March 2024 |work=Northeast Herald |language=English}}
Governor
He was appointed Jharkhand’s Governor on 12 February 2023, and has held the position since 18 February 2023. He succeeded Ramesh Bais.
On 19 March 2024, after the resignation of Tamilisai Soundararajan, he was given additional responsibilities of holding the positions of the Governor of Telangana and the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |title=Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan given additional responsibilities of Telangana, Puducherry |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/jharkhand-governor-cp-radhakrishnan-given-additional-responsibilities-of-telangana-puducherry/article67967271.ece |access-date=19 March 2024 |date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319080335/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/jharkhand-governor-cp-radhakrishnan-given-additional-responsibilities-of-telangana-puducherry/article67967271.ece |archive-date=19 March 2024 |language=en-IN}}{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |title=C.P. Radhakrishnan was sworn in as Telangana Governor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telangana-gets-its-third-governor-as-cp-radhakrishnan-assumed-the-office-at-a-ceremony-in-raj-bhavan-hyderabad/article67971264.ece |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321061801/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telangana-gets-its-third-governor-as-cp-radhakrishnan-assumed-the-office-at-a-ceremony-in-raj-bhavan-hyderabad/article67971264.ece |archive-date=21 March 2024 |language=en-IN}}
On 27 July 2024, he was appointed the Governor of Maharashtra. Jishnu Dev Varma, Santosh Gangwar and Kuniyil Kailashnathan took over the positions of Governor of Telangana, Governor of Jharkhand, and Lt. Governor of Puducherry respectively.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-28 |title=Jishnu Dev Varma is new Governor of Telangana; Radhakrishnan moves to Maharashtra |url=https://telanganatoday.com/jishnu-dev-varma-is-new-governor-of-telangana-radhakrishnan-moves-to-maharashtra |url-status=live |access-date=2024-07-28 |work=Telangana Today |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728081533/https://telanganatoday.com/jishnu-dev-varma-is-new-governor-of-telangana-radhakrishnan-moves-to-maharashtra }}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=PRESS COMMUNIQUE |url=https://www.presidentofindia.gov.in/press_releases/press-communique-19 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=President of India |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728081512/https://www.presidentofindia.gov.in/press_releases/press-communique-19 }}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=PRESS COMMUNIQUE |url=https://www.presidentofindia.gov.in/press_releases/press-communique-20 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=President of India}}
File:C. P. Radhakrishnan with Narendra Modi.jpg on 21st June, 2024|alt=Governor of Jharkhand and Telangana, and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry CP Radhakrishnan holding a bouquet of flowers with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi]]
Electoral Performances
He has contested a total of 5 times, and has won in 1998 and 1999.
| class="sortable wikitable"style="font-size: 95%" | |||||||
| Election
! Constituency ! Party ! Result ! Vote % ! Opposition Candidate ! Opposition Party ! Opposition vote % | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Indian general election | Coimbatore | BJP | {{Won}} | 55.85 | K. R. Subbian | DMK | 37.86 |
| 1999 Indian general election | Coimbatore | BJP | {{Won}} | 49.21 | R. Nallakannu | CPI | 43.02 |
| 2004 Indian general election | Coimbatore | BJP | {{Lost}} | 38.74 | K. Subbarayan | CPI | 57.46 |
| 2014 Indian general election | Coimbatore | BJP | {{Lost}} | 37.24 | A.P.Nagarajan | AIADMK | 33.62 |
| 2019 Indian general election | Coimbatore | BJP | {{Lost}} | 31.47 | P. R. Natarajan | CPI(M) | 45.85 |
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140112033819/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok12/biodata/12tn20.htm Official biographical sketch on the Parliament of India website] (12th Lok Sabha)
- [http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok13/biodata/13TN20.htm Official biographical sketch on the Parliament of India website] (13th Lok Sabha)
- [https://governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do Profile on Governor of Telangana website] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20240328055108/http://www.governor.telangana.gov.in/present_governor.do Archived])
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|in-lwr}}
{{s-bef|before=M. Ramanathan}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Coimbatore |years=1998 – 2004}}
{{s-aft|after=K. Subbarayan}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Ramesh Bais}}
{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Jharkhand|years=18 February 2023 – 30 July 2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Santosh Gangwar}}
{{s-bef|before=Ramesh Bais}}
{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Maharashtra|years=31 July 2024 – Incumbent}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radhakrishnan, C. P.}}
Category:Politicians from Coimbatore
Category:National Democratic Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election