Opposition Unites Behind Former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy for Vice-Presidential Election

Strategic Insights -

Opposition parties have selected former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate for the vice-presidential election, pitching the September 9 poll as a battle between those who uphold the Constitution and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The move is seen as a strategic attempt to unite lawmakers from various opposition parties, including YS Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress and N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party, to vote for a Telugu-speaking public figure. Reddy's nomination has been hailed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who described him as a distinguished jurist and champion of justice.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Opposition has selected former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate for the vice-presidential election.
  • Reddy's nomination is seen as a strategic move to unite lawmakers from various opposition parties to vote for a Telugu-speaking public figure.
  • Reddy's profile includes being an expert on the Constitution, having been born in an agricultural family in the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana and graduating from Osmania University in Hyderabad in 1971.
  • Reddy was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on January 12, 2007, and retired on July 8, 2011.
  • He was part of a bench that pulled up the then UPA government for "sleeping" on the issue of black money and ordered a special investigation team in 2011.
  • The last date of filing nominations for the V-P election is August 21.
  • The NDA holds the edge with 425 votes in the 781-member electoral college comprising both Houses of Parliament.
  • The Vice-Presidential contest is shaped as an ideological battle, with the Opposition parties advocating for Reddy and the NDA supporting CP Radhakrishnan.
  • Rahul Gandhi has hailed Reddy's selection, describing him as a distinguished jurist and champion of justice.
  • Various opposition parties, including the DMK and the Samajwadi Party, have expressed support for Reddy's candidature.

Statistics:

  • 781: The total number of members in the electoral college for the vice-presidential election.
  • 425: The number of votes held by the NDA in the electoral college.
  • 9th September: The date of the vice-presidential election.
  • 21st August: The last date for filing nominations for the V-P election.

Sources:

  • HT Lucknow