Stalin Defends Reddy, Accuses BJP of Scapegoating
Stalin defends Reddy, accuses BJP of hiding failures.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin fiercely criticized the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for branding INDIA bloc’s Vice-Presidential candidate, retired Supreme Court Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, a “Naxal sympathizer” during a Chennai meeting on Sunday. Addressing INDIA bloc leaders and Tamil Nadu MPs to rally support for Reddy’s candidacy in the September 9, 2025, Vice-Presidential election, Stalin accused the BJP of using the label to mask its failure to curb Naxal extremism. “The Centre couldn’t end Naxalism, so they scapegoat a judge who defended the Constitution,” he charged.
Stalin praised Reddy as “eminently qualified” to protect India’s Constitution, which he claimed the BJP is undermining. Highlighting Reddy’s opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) for promoting an “I-Me-Mine culture” over diversity, Stalin said, “We need a judge who respects Tamil Nadu’s sentiments to safeguard our democratic values.” He emphasized that the election is a clash of ideologies, not individuals, urging support for principles like secularism, federalism, and social justice.
Reddy, addressing the gathering, lauded Tamil Nadu’s leadership in human development and vowed to uphold the Constitution if elected. “I’ve given judgments; now it’s your turn to judge me,” he said, promising a dignified campaign. Flanked by DMK allies like K. Selvaperunthagai, Thol Thirumavalavan, and Vaiko, Reddy dismissed Shah’s accusations as irrelevant, focusing instead on his commitment to a “decent” election against NDA candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan.
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Stalin accused the BJP of exploiting Tamil identity to promote Radhakrishnan while weaponizing central agencies against opponents and turning autonomous bodies into BJP subsidiaries. With Reddy’s nomination backed by parties representing over 64% of India’s population, Stalin framed the contest as a fight to protect democracy from the BJP’s alleged assaults on constitutional values.
