INDIA Alliance Picks Former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy as VP Candidate

Dated 19th August 2025

News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid

Editor in Chief

New Delhi : Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, announced that the Opposition parties have unanimously nominated former Supreme Court Judge, Shri B. Sudershan Reddy, as their joint candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election.

Addressing the media in New Delhi, Mr. Kharge described Shri Sudershan Reddy as one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists. He highlighted his long legal career, serving as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court, and later as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

“Sudershan Reddy has been a courageous champion of social, economic, and political justice. His judgments always reflected his concern for the poor and vulnerable while upholding the Constitution and fundamental rights,” Mr. Kharge said. He added that the Vice Presidential contest is an ideological battle, and the Opposition stands united in fighting it.

While addressing media, the Opposition’s nominee, Former SC Judge B. Sudershan Reddy, thanked the INDIA Alliance for projecting him as their candidate. He appealed to all Parliamentarians to extend their support, saying, “I humbly request all members of Parliament to support my candidature.”

Sudershan Reddy was born on July 8, 1946, in Rangareddy district, present-day Telangana. The Opposition plans to file his nomination on August 21. The Vice Presidential election will take place on September 9, with August 22 set for scrutiny of nominations and August 25 as the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the NDA’s candidate for the Vice Presidential post. The decision was taken at a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr. Radhakrishnan, a native of Tamil Nadu, has been a two-time Lok Sabha MP, a textile industrialist, and is also known as a table tennis player and long-distance athlete.

With both camps finalising their nominees, the stage is set for a high-profile contest for the country’s second-highest constitutional office.

With the NDA holding a clear majority in both Houses of Parliament. However, the Opposition’s decision to field Former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy is seen as a symbolic and ideological move, aimed at presenting a united front and conveying its commitment to defend constitutional values. The contest will therefore not only decide the next Vice President but also reflect the continuing political battle between the NDA and the INDIA Alliance.

News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid