INDIA bloc has decided their Vice Presidential candidate. The entire Opposition has unanimously agreed to field retired Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy as the candidate for the upcoming Vice-President elections.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told in a press conference on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) that the vice presidential contest is an ideological battle and Justice Reddy is the right choice. Even Aam Aadmi Party which is not a part of INDIA Block has reportedly extended support to Justice Reddy.
C.P. Radhakrishnan, Maharashtra Governor and former Coimbatore MP, is NDA’s Vice-Presidential pick making both the candidates from South India.
Referring to Justice (Retd) Reddy as one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists, Kharge added: “He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice. Many judgments if you read, will know that how he favoured the poor people and also protected the Constitution and fundamental rights.”
Justice (Retd.) Reddy served as a Supreme Court judge between 2007 and 2011, for four-and-a-half years. He had rendered several landmark judgments on various branches of law, in particular on issues of criminal jurisprudence, Constitution, taxation, service law and human rights.
He served as Goa’s first Lokayukta, but subsequently resigned within seven months. He had also served as the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court until he became a Supreme Court judge.
Born in a village in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Justice (Retd.) Reddy graduated in law from Osmania University. He became an additional judge in Andhra Pradesh High Court in 1993.
INDIA’s bloc decision comes two days after the ruling NDA fielded Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan for the elections. It must be noted that the Opposition’s decision to field a candidate against the NDA nominee is symbolic as the ruling alliance led by the BJP has the numerical strength to ensure an easy victory for Radhakrishnan.
Earlier it has been reported that NCP (SP) Sharad Pawar had suggested the name of author Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. The DMK, another key constituent of the bloc, had reportedly suggested the name of former ISRO scientist and Padma Shri awardee M Annadurai.
In the previous election for the vice-president’s post, which was won by NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar, the TMC had abstained, claiming that the Opposition had decided to nominate Margaret Alva without consulting it. This time, however, all the Opposition parties have aligned with INDIA seem to be on board to field a joint candidate.
The Vice-President election is scheduled to be held on September 9 and the last date to file nomination is August 21.
Also Read: BJP Positions Radhakrishnan For VP Post, Signals Shift In Tone And Strategy https://www.vibesofindia.com/bjp-positions-radhakrishnan-for-vp-post-signals-shift-in-tone-and-strategy/
