In a bold counter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Opposition backing of the NDA’s Vice-Presidential pick, CP Radhakrishnan, the INDIA bloc revealed its own contender on Tuesday: retired Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy.
Reddy’s judicial background includes stints as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and as a judge on the Andhra Pradesh High Court before his Supreme Court tenure, which ended in 2011.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, in unveiling the united Opposition’s choice, framed the Vice-Presidential contest as a clash of ideologies. “Every Opposition party is aligned here. Our democratic principles are facing threats,” Kharge declared.
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He further emphasized, “The INDIA bloc has unanimously selected a single candidate. It’s gratifying that all Opposition groups have rallied around this name a true win for democratic processes.”
Kharge spotlighted Reddy’s qualifications, noting, “He held the position of Chief Justice at the Gauhati High Court and served on the Supreme Court, standing as a strong advocate for social and political equity.”
In an exclusive chat with India Today TV, Reddy reached out broadly: “I’m calling on all parties, even those in the NDA, to back my candidacy.” He voiced optimism about the polls, telling India Today TV that his role as the Opposition’s nominee embodies 60% of the nation’s voice.
Insiders suggest the Opposition tapped Reddy to challenge NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh, such as Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena. There’s speculation that other regional players like the BRS and YSRCP, who initially supported the NDA’s option, might reassess their stance.
These sources added that this pick counters the NDA’s selection of Tamil Nadu native Radhakrishnan, which was meant to complicate matters for Dravidian outfits. By going with Reddy, the Opposition addressed key demands: the DMK’s preference for a southern figure and the Trinamool Congress’s push for someone outside active politics.
