Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Opposition to support NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan, the INDIA bloc on Tuesday fielded its own nominee — former Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy.
Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, Reddy served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and as a Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Reddy retired as a Supreme Court judge in 2011.
Announcing the joint Opposition candidate, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the upcoming Vice Presidential election was an ideological battle.
“All Opposition parties are on board. Democratic values are under attack,” Kharge stated.
"All INDIA bloc parties have decided to have a common candidate. The decision has been taken unanimously. I am happy that all Opposition parties have agreed to one name. It is a big achievement for democracy," Kharge added.
Highlighting the nominee’s credentials, he added, “He has served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and as a Judge of the Supreme Court, and has been a champion of social and political justice.”
Speaking exclusively to India Today TV, Reddy said, "I appeal to all parties, including NDA, to support me." Expressing confidence about the upcoming elections, Reddy told media that, as the Opposition’s candidate, he represented 60% of India.
According to sources, the Opposition chose Justice Reddy to put pressure on NDA allies in Andhra Pradesh, such as Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena.
The sources further pointed out that this was in response to the NDA’s choice of Radhakrishnan, who hails from Tamil Nadu, aimed at putting the Dravidian parties in a bind.
