Former Supreme Court Judge Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy on Thursday filed his nomination papers as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Opposition INDIA bloc, in the presence of several senior Opposition leaders.
He will contest against the NDA’s nominee, CP Radhakrishnan, the current Governor of Maharashtra and a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu.
The Vice Presidential election will likely take place on 9 September.
The nomination process, however, turned into a show of strength for the Opposition, with Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, DMK representatives, and leaders from other parties accompanying Reddy.
Opposition leaders said nearly 80 MPs from different parties have signed in support of his candidature.
B Sudershan Reddy’s Statement
After filing his papers, Justice Reddy released a statement calling for broad support. He said he was entering politics with ‘a deep sense of humility, responsibility, and unwavering commitment to the values enshrined in our Constitution’.
Looking back on his judicial career, he stated, “My life in public service — as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, as a student of law, and as a citizen rooted in the democratic traditions of this Republic — has taught me that the true strength of India lies in the dignity of every individual, the protection of constitutional morality, and the unity in our diversity.”
Terming the upcoming contest ‘larger than a choice between two individuals’, Reddy said it was about reaffirming the ‘idea of India’ envisaged by the framers of the Constitution, ensuring Parliament works with integrity, dissent is valued, and institutions remain independent.
Highlighting the importance of the Vice President’s role as Rajya Sabha Chairperson, he noted, “If elected, I pledge to discharge that role with impartiality, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to dialogue and decorum.”
Thanking the INDIA bloc for its support, Reddy further added, “I am deeply grateful to the leaders of the Opposition parties for reposing their trust in me, and to the countless citizens who continue to inspire this collective struggle for justice, equality, and harmony. With faith in our Constitution and hope in our people, I embark on this journey. May our democratic spirit continue to guide us all.”
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