VP Radhakrishnan to visit Thoothukudi for Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank centenary, alumni meet
Synopsis
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan heads back to Tamil Nadu within two weeks, this time to Thoothukudi — leading the 105th Foundation Day of Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank and attending the Platinum Jubilee Alumni Meet of V.O. Chidambaram College, the institution where he studied. It is a rare instance of a sitting Vice President returning to his own alma mater in an official capacity.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan is visiting Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, 12 November 2026 .
He will lead the 105th Foundation Day celebrations of Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank .
He will also attend the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Alumni Meet of V.O.
Chidambaram College , his alma mater.
The visit follows an earlier Tamil Nadu trip on 30 October , when he attended events in Ramanathapuram and Dindigul .
On Tuesday , Radhakrishnan posted festive greetings for Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) and Govardhan Puja on social media platform X .
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is scheduled to travel to Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, 12 November 2026, to participate in two significant events — the 105th Foundation Day celebrations of Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank and the Platinum Jubilee Alumni Meet of V.O. Chidambaram College, his alma mater, according to an official statement.
Key Events in Thoothukudi
Radhakrishnan will lead the centenary-and-fifth Foundation Day celebrations of Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank, a landmark occasion for one of the region's prominent financial institutions. He will also attend the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Alumni Meet of V.O. Chidambaram College, marking a personal homecoming to the institution where he studied.
A Second Visit to Tamil Nadu in Quick Succession
This visit follows closely on the Vice President's engagements in Tamil Nadu on 30 October, when he travelled to Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram to pay floral tributes on the occasion of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Jayanthi. During that trip, he also attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations and the 39th convocation ceremony of Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University) in Dindigul. The two visits within roughly two weeks underscore the Vice President's active engagement with Tamil Nadu's civic and academic institutions.
Festive Greetings on X
Separately, on Tuesday, Radhakrishnan extended greetings to mark Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) and Govardhan Puja through posts on social media platform X. 'On the auspicious occasion of Gujarati New Year, Bestu Varas, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all. May this New Year bring happiness, good health, peace and prosperity to every home. May it usher in new hopes, fresh beginnings and renewed aspirations for all,' he said.
On Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut and celebrated the day after Diwali, he wrote: 'Warm greetings and heartiest wishes to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Govardhan Puja. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless every home with happiness, peace, prosperity and positivity. May this festival strengthen the values of devotion, gratitude and togetherness.' The festival commemorates the legend of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Parvat on his little finger to shelter the people of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by Lord Indra.
What to Expect
Details of additional engagements during Wednesday's Thoothukudi visit have not been officially disclosed. The visit is expected to draw attention to the Vice President's continuing ties with his home state and to the milestones being celebrated by Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank and V.O. Chidambaram College alike.
Point of View
And the optics of Radhakrishnan's Thoothukudi visit carry weight beyond ceremony. His two Tamil Nadu trips within a fortnight — covering a university convocation, a freedom-fighter's birth anniversary, and now a bank centenary — suggest a deliberate effort to maintain a visible presence in a politically consequential southern state. For Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank, the Vice-Presidential patronage on its 105th anniversary is reputational capital. What remains unsaid is whether these visits translate into any substantive policy dialogue for the state.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan visiting Thoothukudi?
Vice President Radhakrishnan is travelling to Thoothukudi on Wednesday, 12 November 2026, to lead the 105th Foundation Day celebrations of Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank and to attend the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Alumni Meet of V.O. Chidambaram College, the institution where he studied.
What is the significance of V.O. Chidambaram College for Radhakrishnan?
V.O. Chidambaram College in Thoothukudi is Radhakrishnan's alma mater. His participation in its Platinum Jubilee Alumni Meet marks a personal return to the institution in his capacity as Vice President of India.
When did Vice President Radhakrishnan last visit Tamil Nadu?
Radhakrishnan visited Tamil Nadu on 30 October, when he paid floral tributes at Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram on Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Jayanthi and attended the Golden Jubilee and 39th convocation ceremony of Gandhigram Rural Institute in Dindigul.
What did Vice President Radhakrishnan post on X on Tuesday?
On Tuesday, Radhakrishnan extended greetings for Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) and Govardhan Puja via posts on social media platform X, wishing citizens happiness, peace, and prosperity on both occasions.
What is Govardhan Puja?
Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut, is a Hindu festival observed the day after Diwali. It commemorates the legend of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Parvat on his little finger to protect the people of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by Lord Indra.
