The Opposition Tuesday named former Supreme Court Judge Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy its candidate for the September 9 vice-presidential elections against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s C P Radhakrishnan. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, terming Justice Reddy one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists, said the upcoming elections for the post of the vice-president were “an ideological battle” with the Opposition standing united. “All Opposition parties have nominated Shri B Sudershan Reddy garu as their joint candidate for the position of the Vice President of India,” Kharge announced, adding that Justice Reddy had been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice. A native of Telangana who grew up in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and went to the Bar at Hyderabad, Justice Reddy was appointed as a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 2, 1995, served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, and at the Supreme Court between 2007 and 2011. Most recently, he was at the helm of a high-level independent committee of 11 members constituted by the Revanth Reddy government to conduct an independent verification, analysis, and comprehensive study of the caste census in Telangana. The Congress president, flanked by TMC MP Derek O’Brien and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said that Justice Reddy reflected the values that shaped the country’s freedom movement profoundly, and that the Constitution and democracy have been anchored. Emphasising unity in the face of the Constitution “being in danger”, and foundational values under assault, Kharge said the united Opposition was on the other end of “an ideological battle” with the ruling NDA. “This VP contest is an ideological battle and all Opposition parties agreed on this; that is why we have decided to contest unitedly… We have unanimously chosen the candidate… It is a big achievement for democracy if all Opposition parties are able to come together at a point like this,” Kharge said. The Aam Aadmi Party, which was not represented at the press conference, was also on board with the candidature of Justice Reddy, O’Brien clarified. Given both his organisational and political roots in Tamil Nadu, following the announcement of Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan as the NDA’s pick for the VP polls, BJP sources had underlined a significant political aspect of his candidature. The goodwill that Radhakrishnan has in Tamil Nadu, where he served as the chief of the BJP unit and is credited with having laid the foundations of its organisation, as well as with the DMK, was understood to have posed a dilemma for the ruling party in the southern state regarding whether or not to support him. “Justice Reddy is a significant figure from Andhra Pradesh and well respected in all sections of society across the region. Should (Chief Minister and TDP chief) N Chandrababu Naidu ji not consider supporting him?” a senior Opposition MP asked. “In addition to his impeccable credentials, Justice Reddy, as the Opposition’s choice, will put key NDA ally TDP in the same position,” the Opposition MP added. Kharge also invited all Opposition MPs for a meeting to decide on the way forward at the Central Hall in Parliament Wednesday afternoon. In 2011, Justice Reddy, Justice Mukul Mudgal, and noted jurist Fali Nariman headed an inquiry committee related to impeachment proceedings against Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court, who was accused of misappropriating funds in his role as a court-appointed receiver, and of misleading the court even after his elevation to the Bench. Rajya Sabha took up the motion on August 17 and 18, 2011, following the findings, passing the motion, making Justice Sen the first sitting judge to have an impeachment motion against him passed by a House of Parliament. Sen would eventually resign, and incumbent Union law minister Salman Khurshid would submit to Lok Sabha that further discussion on the matter was not required. The Lower House did not get to discuss or vote on the matter.
