VP Radhakrishnan begins 3-day visit to Karnataka, Goa and Kerala on May 29
Synopsis
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan's three-state tour from 29–31 May covers a spiritual golden jubilee, a Goa Statehood Day, a marine research institute, a temple visit, an industrial park inauguration, and a 140-year-old newspaper's anniversary — all in 72 hours. The visit comes as Radhakrishnan also reshapes the Rajya Sabha's committee structure following the high-profile AAP-to-BJP defection of seven MPs.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan begins a 3-day tour of Karnataka , Goa , and Kerala on 29 May 2025 .
On 29 May , he attends the 45th anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru and the Platinum Jubilee of University BDT College of Engineering , Davangere.
On 30 May , he joins Goa's Statehood Day celebrations in Panaji and visits the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography .
On 31 May , he inaugurates the SIRI Industrial Park at Belthangady and the 140th Foundation Anniversary of Deepika Malayalam Daily in Kottayam .
As Rajya Sabha Chairman, Radhakrishnan appointed Raghav Chadha (BJP) as Chairman of the Committee on Petitions after Chadha's defection from AAP .
Seven AAP MPs switched to the BJP in April, cutting AAP's Rajya Sabha strength from 10 to 3 .
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will embark on a three-day official tour covering Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala from 29 May to 31 May 2025, attending a mix of cultural, academic, and institutional events, according to an official statement. The visit spans three states and includes engagements ranging from a global spiritual celebration to the inauguration of an industrial park.
Day 1: Bengaluru and Davangere, Karnataka
On 29 May, Vice President Radhakrishnan will attend the global celebration marking 45 years of the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru. Later the same day, he will travel to Davangere to participate in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of University BDT College of Engineering. The twin engagements signal the Vice President's active role as a representative of national institutions at cultural and educational milestones.
Day 2: Goa Statehood Day and NIO Visit
On 30 May, Radhakrishnan will join the Statehood Day celebrations of Goa at Panaji, marking the state's founding anniversary. He will subsequently visit the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, one of India's premier marine research institutions. The NIO visit underscores the government's continued emphasis on scientific outreach at the highest levels.
Day 3: Temple Visit, Industrial Park, and Kerala
On 31 May, the Vice President will visit the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple before inaugurating the SIRI Industrial Park at Belthangady, Karnataka. He will then travel to Kerala to inaugurate the 140th Foundation Anniversary celebrations of Deepika Malayalam Daily at Kottayam, one of the oldest Malayalam newspapers in circulation. The day concludes with a private function in Kannur, organised by C. Sadanandan Master, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).
Raghav Chadha Appointment and AAP Defections: Background
Separately, Vice President Radhakrishnan, in his capacity as Rajya Sabha Chairman, last week appointed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Raghav Chadha as the new Chairman of the Committee on Petitions of the Upper House. The committee was reconstituted on 20 May, with members including Jebi Mather Hisham, Harsh Mahajan, Gulam Ali, Mayank Kumar Nayak, Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha, Subhasish Khuntia, Rwngwra Narzary, Sandosh Kumar P., and Shambhu Sharan Patel.
Chadha's appointment follows his recent switch from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs. In April 2025, seven AAP Rajya Sabha members — Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta — defected to the BJP, reducing AAP's Upper House strength from 10 to just 3. Shortly after, Chadha met President Droupadi Murmu over the alleged misuse of state resources by the AAP-led government in Punjab.
The Vice President's southern tour is expected to conclude by the evening of 31 May, with further engagements likely to be announced by his office.
Point of View
Academic, and religious milestones that the Prime Minister's office cannot attend simultaneously. More consequentially, Radhakrishnan's committee reshuffle in the Rajya Sabha — handing Raghav Chadha a chairmanship days after his defection from AAP — raises questions about the pace at which institutional rewards follow political realignment. AAP's collapse in the Upper House from 10 seats to 3 in a single month is one of the sharpest such declines for a regional party in recent memory, and its downstream effects on Punjab politics remain unresolved.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan visiting from 29 to 31 May 2025?
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is on a three-day tour covering Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala from 29 to 31 May 2025. Key stops include Bengaluru, Davangere, Panaji, Belthangady, Kottayam, and Kannur.
What events will the Vice President attend during the tour?
Radhakrishnan will attend the 45th anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation, Goa's Statehood Day celebrations, a visit to the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography, the inauguration of the SIRI Industrial Park, and the 140th Foundation Anniversary of Deepika Malayalam Daily, among others.
Why was Raghav Chadha appointed Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions?
Vice President Radhakrishnan, in his role as Rajya Sabha Chairman, reconstituted the Committee on Petitions on 20 May and appointed Raghav Chadha as its chairman. The appointment came shortly after Chadha's switch from AAP to the BJP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs.
How many AAP MPs defected to the BJP in April 2025?
Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs — Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta — defected to the BJP in April 2025. The move reduced AAP's strength in the Upper House from 10 to just 3 members.
What is the significance of the Art of Living Foundation's 45th anniversary event?
The global celebration marks 45 years since the founding of the Art of Living Foundation, a major spiritual and cultural organisation. Vice President Radhakrishnan's attendance in Bengaluru on 29 May lends official recognition to the milestone at the highest constitutional level.
