VP Radhakrishnan begins 3-day visit to Karnataka, Goa and Kerala
Synopsis
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan's three-day tour across Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala packs in the Art of Living's 45th global celebration, Goa's Statehood Day, a CSIR oceanography visit, and the inauguration of a new industrial park — while his Rajya Sabha role drew attention with Raghav Chadha's appointment as Petitions Committee chief, weeks after the former AAP leader's high-profile defection to the BJP.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan began a three-day official tour of Karnataka , Goa , and Kerala on 30 May 2025 .
He attended the 45th anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru and the Platinum Jubilee of BDT College of Engineering in Davangere .
On 30 May , he participated in Goa Statehood Day celebrations at Panaji and visited CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography .
On 31 May , he will inaugurate 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 as head of the Committee on Petitions , weeks after Chadha's defection from AAP to BJP along with six other MPs.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Friday, 30 May 2025 began a three-day official tour covering Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala, attending a mix of national, cultural, and institutional events across the three states.
Day One: Karnataka Events
The Vice President's first engagement on Friday was the global celebration marking 45 years of the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru. He subsequently travelled to Davangere to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of BDT College of Engineering, a milestone marking 75 years of the institution's contribution to technical education in Karnataka.
Day Two: Goa Statehood Day and CSIR Visit
On 30 May, Radhakrishnan participated in Goa's Statehood Day celebrations at Panaji, marking the state's liberation anniversary. He also visited the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, one of India's premier marine research institutions, underscoring the Centre's focus on ocean science and coastal development.
Day Three: Temple, Industrial Park, and Kerala
On 31 May, the Vice President is scheduled to visit the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple before inaugurating the SIRI Industrial Park at Belthangady in Karnataka. Later, he will travel to Kerala to inaugurate the 140th Foundation Anniversary celebrations of Deepika Malayalam Daily at Kottayam, one of the oldest Malayalam newspapers still in circulation. He will also visit Kannur for a private function organised by C. Sadanandan Master, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).
Raghav Chadha Appointment and AAP Defections
Separately, in his capacity as Rajya Sabha Chairman, Radhakrishnan last week appointed 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.
The appointment follows Chadha's recent switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In April, seven Rajya Sabha MPs — Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta — defected from the AAP to the BJP, reducing the AAP's Upper House strength from 10 to just three. Shortly after, Chadha met President Droupadi Murmu over the alleged misuse of state resources by the AAP-led government in Punjab.
With a packed schedule spanning cultural milestones, institutional inaugurations, and legislative duties, the Vice President's tour reflects the breadth of ceremonial and constitutional responsibilities the office carries.
Point of View
Coming so swiftly after his defection from AAP, will invite scrutiny about whether committee assignments are being used as political rewards. The AAP's collapse in the Rajya Sabha — from 10 seats to three in a single wave of defections — is one of the more consequential Upper House realignments in recent years, and its full implications for Punjab's legislative leverage at the Centre are still unfolding.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan visiting on his 3-day tour?
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is visiting Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala from 30 May to 31 May 2025, attending official, cultural, and religious events including Goa's Statehood Day and the Art of Living Foundation's 45th anniversary.
What events will Radhakrishnan attend in Karnataka?
In Karnataka, he attended the Art of Living Foundation's 45th global celebration in Bengaluru and the Platinum Jubilee of BDT College of Engineering in Davangere. On 31 May, he will visit the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple and inaugurate the SIRI Industrial Park at Belthangady.
Why is Raghav Chadha's appointment to the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee significant?
Raghav Chadha was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Petitions by Vice President Radhakrishnan in his role as Rajya Sabha Chairman. The appointment is notable because it came shortly after Chadha's defection from AAP to BJP in April 2025, raising questions about the timing of the assignment.
How many AAP MPs defected to the BJP in April 2025?
Seven Rajya Sabha MPs — Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta — defected from AAP to BJP in April 2025, cutting AAP's Upper House strength from 10 to just three.
What is the significance of Deepika Malayalam Daily's 140th anniversary?
Deepika Malayalam Daily, one of the oldest Malayalam-language newspapers still in circulation, is celebrating its 140th Foundation Anniversary at Kottayam, Kerala, which Vice President Radhakrishnan will inaugurate on 31 May 2025.
