Radhan Pandit
Radhan Pandit | |
|---|---|
| Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty | |
| In office 12 May 2026 – 13 May 2026 | |
| Chief Minister | C. Joseph Vijay |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel[1] Erode, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Political party | Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam |
| Occupation | Politician, astrologer |
Radhan Pandit is an Indian politician and astrologer. He was appointed as the Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty by chief minister C. Joseph Vijay on 12 May 2026 and later removed from office on 13 May 2026 within 36 hours after assuming office.[2][3][4][5][6]
He has also served as a personal astrologer for two chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa and C. Joseph Vijay.[7]
Career
Radhan has been practicing astrology and numerology since 1983, he claims to have predicted many accurate incidents in India especially Indian Government and major political leaders around the world. From 1996 to 1998, he became well known in Mumbai and worked with several prominent personalities, including Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Jagathish Kapoor, GIC Chairman Sengupta, IDBI Chairman Chakravarthy, advocate Girish Gokhale, a Mumbai High Court judge, actress Manisha Koirala, Tea Board Chairman Shom Shekhar, and Payal Abdullah, wife of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, including advising on her son's birth time.[citation needed]
In 2008, Radhan moved to Delhi when he dropped his initial name “Pandit Vettrivel” and adopted the name “Radhan Pandit”. Due to astrology reasoning. He also claimed that he developed a relationship with senior leader LK Advani, who he describes as a mentor-like figure, and that he travelled across India and countries like Dubai and Sri Lanka.
Predicting J. Jayalalithaa's victory and downfall
During an interview, Radhan stated that he predicted former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa victory in the 1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election against M. Karunanidhi. He also warned her about a difficult phase between 1994 and 1997. During that time, she lost power and was arrested in December 1996. However, After that incident, Radhan became her personal astrologer.[8] He claimed that he influenced her to change her name from "J Jayalalitha" to "J Jayalalithaa". Radhan and his relationship with Jayalalithaa became tough after a major prediction went wrong. He had reportedly told her that she would not go to jail in a disproportionate assets case. But in September 2014, the court verdict went against her and she was sent to jail. After this, she stopped consulting him, and their professional relationship ended.[9]
Prediction of Vijay's landslide victory
In 2024, Radhan publicly predicted that C. Joseph Vijay would emerge as a major political force in Tamil Nadu.[10] One of the claims is that he suggested Vijay should contest from a constituency starting with the letter “V”, which was seen as an “auspicious” choice.[11] During the election period, he also appeared in several YouTube interviews, where he predicted that Vijay and his party would see a strong political rise.[12] After Vijay's inauguration as chief minister, he appointed Radhan on 12 May 2026 as Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty.[13][14]
Removal from office
On 13 May 2026, after 36 hours of taking the role as Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty, Radhan was removed from his office by chief minister C. Joseph Vijay following an assembly meeting that afternoon where oppositions parties passed criticism remarks of Radhan taking up the office.[15][16] During the assembly meeting politician Premalatha Vijayakanth and Sowmiya Anbumani also raised their concerns of Radhan being in office.[17][18][19]
Controversies
After Radhan was appointed as Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty, many politicians and allies from the TVK-led Alliance opposed the decision. In a post on X, Indian National Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil said, "Beats me. Why would an astrologer require an OSD position ?? Can any one explain."[20][21]
A comment from VCK general secretary D Ravikumar stated, "This is unacceptable in a secular government. The Honorable Chief Minister should reconsider this."[22]
References
- ↑ "CM Vijay appoints astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Political OSD". thefederal.com. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Who Is Astrologer Radhan Pandit? Vijay's New OSD Who Suggested 'TVK' Name And Predicted Poll Sweep". News18. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Astrologer Radhan Pandit, who predicted Vijay's win, becomes Tamil Nadu CM's special officer". economictimes. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Vijay's Astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel Appointed 'Officer On Special Duty' In Tamil Nadu Government". www.timesnownews.com. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Tamil Nadu government appoints Rickey Pandit Vettrivel as OSD (Political) to Chief Minister". The Hindu. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Vijay's government revokes order appointing astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit as OSD (Political) to CM". The Hindu. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Who Is Rickey Pandit, Astrologer Who Predicted TVK Win, Now Vijay's Adviser". www.ndtv.com. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "From Jayalalithaa to Vijay: How Radhan Pandit Vettrivel turned astrology into a tool of power in Tamil Nadu". www.theweek.in. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "When Predictions Hurt: Astrologer Radhan Pandit Who Forecast Vijay's Win Once Guided Jayalalithaa". News18. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Who is Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel, Vijay's astrologer, now part of Tamil Nadu govt?". First Post. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Who is Radhan Pandit, astrologer who predicted Vijay's tsunami victory?". India Today. 2026-05-04. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's astrologer, who predicted his victory, appointed Officer on Special Duty". www.deccanherald.com. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Vijay appoints his astrologer as OSD: Who is Radhan Pandit Vetrivel?". Indian Express. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Vijay's astrologer, Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, gets key post in his government". India Today. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Radhan Pandit Predicted 'Tsunami Victory'. He Did Not Predict His Own OSD Post Would Last 36 Hours". News18. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "CM Vijay walks back appointment of astrologer Rickey Vettrivel as OSD after backlash from allies, critics". India Today. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Tamil Nadu CM Vijay revokes astrologer's appointment as OSD after allies raise objections". Times Of India. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "CM Vijay revokes astrologer Radhan Pandit's OSD appointment after widespread criticism". The New Indian Express. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ ""Highly condemnable": DMDK's Premalatha slams appointment of astrologer Rathin Pandey as OSD to CM Vijay, raises horse-trading concerns". www.aninews.in. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Vijay Appoints Astrologer His Political Adviser, "Unacceptable," Say Allies". www.ndtv.com. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "'Unacceptable': Allies slam Vijay over astrologer's appointment in CM office". Times Of India. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ "Vijay's astrologer made OSD to CM, triggers backlash from allies, rivals". www.dtnext.in. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
External links
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