Opposition candidate for the vice-presidential election Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy said Thursday that contesting the polls “is not merely about one individual” and is rather “about reaffirming the idea of India as envisaged by our founders, where Parliament functions with integrity, where dissent is respected”. Justice (Retd) Reddy made the remarks while filing his nomination papers as top leaders from INDIA bloc parties, including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha LOP Rahul Gandhi, Rajya Sabha LOP Mallikarjun Kharge, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and Dharmednra Yadav, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, TMC's Satabdi Roy, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, CPI(M)'s John Brittas among others were present. Sources said there were 20 proposers and 20 seconders in each set of forms filed by Justice (Retd) Reddy for his nomination. “The V-P candidate has filed four sets, so 80 proposers and 80 seconders,” said the source. In a statement after filing his nomination, Reddy promised that if elected as the vice-president, he would "discharge that role with impartiality, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to dialogue and decorum". “This election is not merely about one individual. It is about reaffirming the idea of India as envisaged by our founders - an India where Parliament functions with integrity, where dissent is respected, and where institutions serve the people with independence and fairness,” said Reddy. He said his 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 him that “the true strength of India lies in the dignity of every individual, the protection of constitutional morality, and the unity in our diversity”. “The Vice President, as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, carries the responsibility of safeguarding the highest traditions of parliamentary democracy,” Reddy said in the statement. He expressed gratitude to the leaders of the Opposition parties for reposing their trust in him, 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,” said Reddy. Justice Reddy, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2011, most recently headed the independent expert working group set up by the Congress government in Telangana to analyse data of a caste survey conducted by it. As the head of the expert group, Justice Reddy had interactions with senior Congress leadership, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and reportedly left a good impression on them. Justice Reddy is expected to be projected by the Opposition as a champion of social justice as opposed to CP Radhakrishnan, a veteran RSS leader. The vice-presidential elections will be held on September 9.
