Opposition chooses retired judge Sudershan Reddy as its VP candidate against NDA

New Delhi (India) August 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asks the opposition to back CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA's vice presidential candidate. But the INDIA group on Tuesday put forward its own choice, Sudershan Reddy. He is a retired Supreme Court judge.

Reddy was a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court before being promoted to the Supreme Court. In 2011, Reddy retired from the Supreme Court.

Kharge says democracy is at stake

Congress head Mallikarjun Kharge declares that the forthcoming vice presidential election is an ideological contest. He says this when he announces the unified opposition candidate.

He said, “All Opposition parties are on board. Democratic values are under attack. 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 also adds, “He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice. He is a poor man and many judgments if you read, will know how he favoured the poor people and also protected the Constitution and fundamental rights.”

Justice Reddy’s long judicial career

Judge Sudarshan Reddy was born in July 1946. He started practicing law after becoming an advocate with the Andhra Pradesh Bar Council on December 27, 1971. Between 1988 and 1990, he was a government pleader in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. 

In 1990, he held the position of additional standing counsel for the Central government. He also served as Osmania University's standing counsel and legal adviser.

He also issues a number of historic rulings in the legal fields. Most notably in the areas of criminal law, the Constitution, taxes, service law, and human rights. He was the first Lokayukta of Goa, but he quit after just seven months.

Southern regional parties likely to influence VP vote

Sources claim that Justice Reddy was selected by the opposition to put pressure on Andhra Pradesh's NDA partners. It includes Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP. It is possible that other Telugu parties, like the YSRCP and BRS, which had previously supported the NDA's choice, are reconsidering their choices.

According to sources, the DMK prefers a candidate from South India. The Trinamool Congress also pushes for an apolitical candidate, therefore selecting Justice Reddy checks all the boxes.

He will run against CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA's nominee. As both sides organize support before the election on September 9, it is anticipated that the election will set the stage for a fierce political battle.