Sudershan Reddy Kicks Off VP Campaign in Lucknow
Reddy meets Congress, SP leaders for VP poll strategy.
Opposition vice-presidential candidate B Sudershan Reddy arrived in Lucknow to strategize with key INDIA bloc leaders from the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) ahead of the September 9, 2025, vice-presidential election. The former Supreme Court judge from Telangana was warmly welcomed at Lucknow airport by UP Congress president Ajay Rai, state in-charge Avinash Pande, senior leader Pramod Tiwari, and SP workers waving party flags. Reddy told PTI Videos, “I’m here to meet veteran leaders of political parties, including SP president Akhilesh Yadav, with Congress president Ajay Rai by my side.”
The visit sets the stage for a high-stakes “south versus south” electoral battle against NDA candidate C P Radhakrishnan, a BJP veteran from Tamil Nadu. The election, triggered by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation, is framed by the opposition as an ideological clash, though the NDA holds a numerical advantage in the electoral college.
Reddy, 79, is renowned for landmark judgments, including the 2011 Salwa Judum ruling with Justice S S Nijjar, which declared the use of tribal youths as Special Police Officers against Maoists unconstitutional. This decision drew criticism from Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused Reddy of “supporting” Naxalism, a charge Reddy declined to address further, stating, “I have said enough about it.”
Reddy’s agenda includes a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav to outline the opposition’s vision. His judicial legacy, notably criticizing the UPA government’s laxity in black money probes, bolsters his credentials as a principled candidate. Meanwhile, Radhakrishnan, 67, a former two-term Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore and ex-Tamil Nadu BJP chief, leverages his political experience and regional clout.
The opposition aims to rally support by highlighting governance and constitutional values, with Congress and SP coordinating efforts to challenge the NDA’s dominance. Recent tensions over the Finance Bill and lateral entry into civil services have further fueled the opposition’s campaign narrative, making Reddy’s Lucknow deliberations a critical step in mobilizing support.
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