NEW DELHI: In a surprise pick, the Opposition INDIA bloc has nominated Former Supreme Court Judge Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the post of Vice President of India.
Announcing the candidate, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “This vice-presidential contest is an ideological battle, and all the opposition parties agreed on this, and this is the reason we have nominated B Sudershan Reddy as the joint candidate."
Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, Reddy had served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He retired as a judge of the Supreme Court in 2011.
Reddy will face the NDA nominee, Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, in the Vice Presidential contest scheduled to be on September 9.
The election was triggered by the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar last month due to health reasons. The deadline for filing nominations is August 21.
"All I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties has 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 said.
“Reddy one of the India s most distinguished and progressive jurist. He has had a long and eminent legal career. He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social , economic and political justice, In his many judgements, he favoured the poor people and protected the fundamental rights and Constitution,” said Kharge.
“He reflects, fully, the values that shaped our country’s Freedom Movement so profoundly, and the values on which our country’s Constitution and Democracy have been anchored. All these values are under assault and therefore, our collective and determined resolve to fight this election,” he said.
"Justice Sudershen Reddy is the ultimate champion of civil liberties, institutional integrity & social justice. I can personally vouch for it, having worked very closely with him as the Convenor of the Expert Group for Telangana Caste Census, of which he was the Chairman," Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty said.
Kharge was accompanied by prominent leaders of INDIA bloc parties including DMK’s Kanimozhi, TMC’s Dtrek Obrien and NCP’s Sharad Pawar among others.
Though AAP leaders were absent, Derek Obrien told the media that the AAP is on board with the decision.
According to sources, the Opposition wanted to to field a non-political candidate though several names were under consideration.