Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan arrived in Kerala on Sunday, 29 August for a two-day official visit, prompting authorities to put in place extensive security arrangements spanning five locations across Kerala and Lakshadweep. The visit, running through Monday, 30 August, covers a packed itinerary of cultural, educational, and developmental programmes tied to the state's Onam season.

Key Programmes on the Itinerary

Radhakrishnan's first engagement is the 115th anniversary celebrations of Kerala Kaumudi in Alappuzha. He will then travel to Pathanamthitta to inaugurate the Aranmula Water Festival, one of Kerala's most prominent river-based cultural events. The Vice-President will subsequently reach Thiruvananthapuram, where he is scheduled to flag off the Onam Pageantry and serve as chief guest at the state government's Onam valedictory event — the concluding ceremony of Kerala's week-long Onam Tourism Week.

Lakshadweep Leg and Return to Kochi

Security arrangements extend beyond the mainland into 31 August, when the Vice-President will travel to Agatti Island in Lakshadweep for a fisheries outreach programme. He will return to Kochi the same day to attend the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology (RSET) and the Confluence 3.0 Summit. The multi-location itinerary — spanning Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Agatti, and Kochi — has required close inter-agency coordination at each stop.

Security Measures in Place

Police have put in place elaborate arrangements covering the Vice-President's movements, with special attention given to airports, official venues, and the routes connecting them. Parking restrictions have been imposed along several key roads during specified hours, and vehicles found in restricted zones will be removed using recovery vehicles. Authorities in Thiruvananthapuram have urged the public to cooperate with the measures. Passengers heading to Thampanoor and Kochuveli railway stations, as well as both the international and domestic airports, have been advised to plan their journeys in advance to avoid disruptions.

Significance of the Visit

The Vice-President's participation in the Onam Pageantry and the Tourism Week valedictory lends national prominence to Kerala's flagship cultural calendar. Notably, the visit also includes a developmental outreach in Lakshadweep — a Union Territory — underscoring the administrative breadth of the schedule. With programmes spread across two jurisdictions and five venues, security agencies are expected to remain on heightened alert throughout the visit.