VP Radhakrishnan's first Sikkim visit: Statehood Day in Gangtok on Saturday
Synopsis
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan heads to Gangtok on Saturday for Sikkim's Statehood Day — his first visit to the state since taking office. The trip follows PM Modi's own Gangtok visit last month, where ₹4,000 crore in projects were announced, signalling sustained high-level Centre attention on the Himalayan state.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan will visit Sikkim on Saturday, 17 May 2025 — his first trip to the state since assuming office.
He will attend the Statehood Day Celebrations in Gangtok .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gangtok last month for the 50th anniversary of Sikkim's statehood.
Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth around ₹4,000 crore during his visit.
Modi also met Padma awardees , held a cultural roadshow, and engaged in a football session with local youth in Gangtok.
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan will make his first official visit to Sikkim on Saturday, 17 May 2025, attending the state's Statehood Day Celebrations in Gangtok, according to an official statement. The visit marks Radhakrishnan's maiden trip to the northeastern state since assuming the Vice Presidency.
What the Visit Covers
Radhakrishnan is scheduled to participate in the formal Statehood Day programme in Gangtok, which commemorates Sikkim's merger with the Indian Union. No further engagements beyond the celebrations have been officially confirmed at this stage.
Sikkim's Recent Spotlight in National Politics
The Vice President's visit comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Gangtok last month for a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Sikkim's statehood — a milestone that brought the small Himalayan state considerable national attention. During that visit, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth around ₹4,000 crore.
Modi also held a two-kilometre-long cultural roadshow through Gangtok, with residents lining both sides of the road waving the tricolour and dressed in traditional attire. He engaged in a football session with local youth and had what was described as an 'enriching interaction' with Padma awardees, social workers, artists, academicians and sportspersons.
PM Modi's Engagement With Sikkim's Achievers
In posts shared on X, Prime Minister Modi described the football session as 'Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!' and called it 'Clearly, an energising football session with these youngsters!' He also noted it was 'wonderful discussing a wide range of issues' with the Padma awardees and achievers gathered at the interaction.
According to officials, the discussions spanned development, culture, innovation, education, social welfare and opportunities for youth. Participants also shared personal experiences and suggestions with the Prime Minister, in what officials characterised as part of his broader outreach to acknowledge grassroots contributors and nation-builders.
What to Watch
With two senior constitutional functionaries visiting Sikkim within weeks of each other, the Centre's focus on the northeastern frontier state is evident. Radhakrishnan's presence at the Statehood Day event is expected to reinforce that signal, even as Sikkim continues to await disbursements linked to the development projects Modi announced last month.
Point of View
000 crore project announcements from Modi's visit remain largely at foundation-stone stage; Radhakrishnan's Statehood Day presence sustains political momentum without adding new fiscal commitments. The real question is whether this attention translates into accelerated project execution for a state that has historically struggled with absorption of central funds given its challenging terrain and limited contractor base.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Vice President Radhakrishnan visiting Sikkim?
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan is visiting Sikkim on Saturday, 17 May 2025, to attend the state's Statehood Day Celebrations in Gangtok. This is his first official visit to Sikkim since assuming office as Vice President.
What is Sikkim's Statehood Day?
Sikkim's Statehood Day marks the state's formal merger with the Indian Union in 1975, making it the 22nd state of India. The 50th anniversary of this event was celebrated last month with a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What did PM Modi announce during his Sikkim visit last month?
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple development projects worth around ₹4,000 crore during his Gangtok visit. He also held a cultural roadshow, met Padma awardees, and participated in a football session with local youth.
Who attended PM Modi's interaction in Gangtok?
The interaction brought together Padma awardees, social workers, artists, academicians, sportspersons and other achievers. According to officials, discussions covered development, culture, innovation, education, social welfare and opportunities for youth.
Has the Vice President visited Sikkim before?
Saturday's visit will be Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan's first trip to Sikkim since he assumed office. No prior visits to the state in his current capacity have been recorded, according to official statements.
