VP Election: Reddy Champions Idea of India

B. Sudarshan Reddy, the opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee for the vice-presidential election, declared on Thursday that the poll is not just about an individual but about reaffirming an India rooted in parliamentary integrity, respect for dissent, and independent institutions. The former Supreme Court judge, speaking after filing his nomination, pledged to serve as Vice President with “impartiality, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to dialogue and decorum” if elected.

Reddy, joined by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and other opposition leaders, filed his nomination for the September 9 election, triggered by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on July 21, 2025. “My life in public service—as a Supreme Court judge and a student of law—has taught me that India’s strength lies in constitutional morality and unity in diversity,” Reddy said in a statement. He emphasized the Vice President’s role as Rajya Sabha chairperson in safeguarding parliamentary democracy.

The election, with an electoral college of 781 MPs (543 Lok Sabha, 238 Rajya Sabha, including 12 nominated members), requires a majority of 391 votes. Reddy, the first Lokayukta of Goa and a trustee at Hyderabad’s International Arbitration and Mediation Centre, faces NDA’s C.P. Radhakrishnan, a Tamil Nadu BJP veteran and Maharashtra Governor. The opposition’s choice of Reddy, a Telugu jurist, frames the contest as a South vs. South ideological battle, with posts on X like @BharatVoice24 noting, “Reddy’s nomination signals a fight for constitutional values.”

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Reddy expressed gratitude to opposition leaders and citizens, stating, “This election is about an India where institutions serve with fairness.” Despite the NDA’s numerical edge with 423 MPs, Reddy’s campaign, backed by parties like Congress and DMK, aims to project unity and challenge the BJP’s narrative, as highlighted by @DemocracyFirst on X. The contest underscores tensions over democratic principles, with Reddy’s legal legacy, including his role in Telangana’s caste census, adding weight to his candidacy.

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