'When My Son Was Born...': Vice President-Elect CP Radhakrishnan's Mother Recalls How He Got His Name

Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu): "Are you giving this name because you want him to become the President one day?" Janaki Ammal, mother of Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, the NDA pick elected as India's 15th Vice President on Tuesday (September 9), recalls her husband asking her when she decided to name her son after India's former president Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

When her son was born in 1957, Janaki decided she would name him after Dr Radhakrishnan, who at that time was serving as the Vice President of India.

Dr Radhakrishnan inspired her because he had been a teacher, just like her. The former President taught Philosophy at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in pre-Independence India before he forayed into politics.

"When my son was born, Vice President Radhakrishnan was in office. He was a teacher, and I was a teacher too. In his memory, I named my son after him. At that time, my husband looked at me and asked, "Are you giving this name because you want your son to become the President one day?" Janaki said, while speaking to ANI, on Wednesday, a day after her son was elected as Vice President.

"After 62 years, just as my husband had said, it has come true. I feel very happy about it," she added.

CP Kumaresh, the brother of the newly elected Vice President, also expressed his happiness. He said it is a great joy that Radhakrishnan will now take on the responsibility of managing the Rajya Sabha.

Speaking to ANI, CP Kumaresh said, "I am very, very happy. It is a great joy that Radhakrishnan has been elected as the Vice President. He has to take the responsibility of efficiently managing the Rajya Sabha, and he will carry it out successfully. He will also uphold PM Modi's trust."

Backed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Radhakrishnan secured a decisive majority in the election, receiving support not only from NDA MPs but also from sections of the opposition. He defeated the INDIA bloc nominee Justice B. Sudershan Reddy by 152 votes in the Vice Presidential elections held in the Parliament from 10 am to 5 pm on Tuesday.

The VP election witnessed a voter turnout of 98.20 per cent, with 767 MPs casting their votes out of 781 eligible voters. Radhakrishnan received 452 first preference votes, whereas Reddy received 300 first preference votes. Fifteen votes were considered invalid.

Radhakrishnan was serving as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra from July 31, 2024, before being announced as the NDA's Vice Presidential nominee. The Vice President's seat had been vacant since July 21, 2025, as former VP Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his position, citing health reasons.

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