C P Radhakrishnan takes oath as India’s 15th Vice President
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy (C P) Radhakrishnan was sworn in today as India’s 15th vice-president at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath. Senior political leaders attended the brief ceremony, a formal moment that marks the start of a demanding, behind the scenes job, running the Rajya Sabha.
On the surface it was a neat, orderly transfer of office. Beneath that neatness lies a harder question, can a seasoned NDA, backed leader who is widely seen as an uncompromising nationalist use the chair to strengthen parliamentary procedure, rather than turn it into another theatre of partisan combat? For supporters, and there are many who backed his elevation, Radhakrishnan’s arrival is a chance to end procedural chaos, restore discipline, and help Parliament focus on governance. For critics, the risk is that a politically committed chair may tilt decisions in favour of the ruling alliance. Both views matter.
Why the oath day matters: The vice-president is not merely ceremonial. As ex, official chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the office runs debates, rules on points of order, decides on admittance of notices, enforces discipline, and shapes how, and how fast, legislation moves. These are concrete levers of power, fair use of them cements trust in the House, selective use undermines it. The oath is the first step, the coming weeks will show whether the chair treats rules as neutral tools or as tactical instruments.
Why BJP supporters feel optimistic: Radhakrishnan brings years of experience in party organisation, parliamentary work and administrative roles. That background matters in a chamber where procedural fog frequently stalls business. From the BJP and its supporters’ perspective, his strengths are practical, knowledge of procedure, familiarity with how a large, fractious House works, and a proven ability to get things moving. If the chair uses that experience to clear backlogs, schedule debates efficiently, and prevent low value disruptions from derailing serious business, the Rajya Sabha will run more productively, and the government will be able to implement its development agenda with fewer procedural snags. For citizens impatient for results, a disciplined Upper House that delivers is a clear plus.
Why scepticism from the other side is understandable: Opposition unease is not merely political posturing. When a chair has a visible partisan past, every contentious ruling, on speaking time, suspension motions, or the admission of notices, is filtered through the prism of politics. That perception can harden quickly, even correct, rule, based decisions will be presented as biased if the process lacks transparency. So the sceptical argument is simple and practical, the chair must demonstrate fairness repeatedly, because credibility is built by habit, not by statements.
What impartiality looks like in practice: Impartiality is a set of repeatable actions, not an abstract virtue. In the Rajya Sabha it will show up as:
• Accepting notices from all sides on the basis of established tests, not political convenience.
• Allocating speaking time and lists in a consistent way so minority voices are heard.
• Applying disciplinary sanctions and adjournments according to precedent, and explaining why.
• Publishing short, plain, language reasons for controversial rulings so the public can see the logic rather than read motives into them.
If Radhakrishnan follows these routines, trust will grow. If he doesn’t, even small mistakes will be magnified into charges of partisanship. The pattern of rulings in the early weeks will set the tone for his tenure.
How Radhakrishnan can build credibility, and how others should help: A practical pathway to build trust is clear and manageable:
• Be visibly procedural, cite precedents when making decisions, and let the Rajya Sabha secretariat’s procedures do the heavy lifting.
• Communicate briefly and concretely, publish reasons for controversial orders so parties understand the legal logic.
• Use private briefings with whips to avoid surprises, while keeping public rulings neutral.
• Treat opposition and government notices with the same yardstick, fairness is measurable.
• Encourage the secretariat to publish quick references to past rulings so media and MPs can check consistency.
Success is a shared responsibility. The chair can create the environment, parties, media and the secretariat must insist on transparency and hold the office accountable when needed.
What to watch first,the early tests: The first weeks are the diagnostic period. Watch how he handles points of order, urgent notices, permission for special debates, suspension motions and time allocation for contentious bills. These are routine but revealing, small, consistent fairness in these matters will demonstrate a real commitment to impartiality.
The governance angle, why this matters beyond politics: If the chair uses his administrative skills to keep the House focused on substance rather than spectacle, the payoff is concrete, clearer lawmaking timelines, less tactical delay, and smoother passage of legislation that affects development, delivery of services and reforms. For a government with an ambitious policy agenda, a disciplined Rajya Sabha is an instrument for national progress. That is the argument many supporters make, Radhakrishnan’s partisan background can become an asset if channelled into firm, evenhanded procedural stewardship that prioritises governance.
The unavoidable reality: This is a political country and a political House, Radhakrishnan’s election reflects the arithmetic of alliances. But the office of the chair also presents an institutional chance to rise above immediate politics. If he balances conviction with visible, rule- based fairness, the Rajya Sabha’s dignity and usefulness can grow, if he lets partisan instincts guide rulings, trust will fray and parliamentary theatre will deepen. The oath was the easy part, the first handful of rulings will reveal which path he chooses.
For BJP supporters, the hope is clear, a steady, efficient Rajya Sabha that cuts through procedural clutter and helps the government deliver. For critics, the watchword is vigilance, ensuring every decision is transparently grounded in rules. Either way, India’s parliamentary life will be shaped, in small but powerful ways, by how Radhakrishnan uses the tools of his office.