The common point is that both come from South India, Reddy from Andhra Pradesh (present day Telangana) and Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu; While the BJP-led NDA holds a numerical advantage, the contest is also about optics and messaging; This Vice Presidential contest is an ideological battle, says Kharge
Former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy is the INDIA bloc’ candidate for the post of the Vice President against Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, the BJP-led NDA candidate for the elections to be held shortly.
“B Sudershan Reddy is one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists. He has had a long and eminent legal career, including as judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court and Judge of the Supreme Court,” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said announcing his name.
“He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice. He is a poor man and many judgments if you read, will know how he favoured the poor people and also protected the Constitution and fundamental rights,” Kharge added.
The BJP on Sunday announced the name of Radhakrishnan—a former Lok Sabha MP who has also served as the Governor of Jharkhand and is credited for strengthening the saffron foundation in the south during his tenure as the Tamil Nadu BJP president
This contest is an ideological battle: Kharge
“All Opposition parties have nominated Shri B. Sudershan Reddy garu as their joint candidate for the position of the Vice President of India.
“Shri B. Sudershan Reddy garu is one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists. He has had a long and eminent legal career including as Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court and Judge of the Supreme Court. He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice.
“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,” Kharge said.
Opposition’ unity test
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien said Reddy’s name was decided unanimously and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), too, was on board.
Reddy will file his nomination on Thursday, Kharge said.
Born on July 8, 1946, Reddy was appointed the judge of the Supreme Court on January 12, 2007 and retired on July 8, 2011 after a four-year stint.
For the Opposition, the challenge was not just picking a strong candidate but doing so collectively. Past vice presidential and presidential elections have often seen divisions among non-NDA parties, weakening their impact.
Numbers’ edge
The common point is that both come from South India, Reddy from Andhra Pradesh (present day Telangana) and Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu.
However, as far as numbers are concerned, the BJP-led NDA has an edge.
The BJP and NDA allies have at least 150 more members than the opposition in the Vice Presidential Electoral College which includes MPs from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. With support of 422 of 787 MPs across both Houses, numbers stack up in favour of NDA, but fight may be closer than earlier times
The BJP has 240 members in Lok Sabha and 99 in Rajya Sabha. If the members of allies are included, the ruling side will have more than 457 members in both houses of Parliament. The government recently also filled the four nominated seats in Rajya Sabha
The Congress—the largest opposition party in both houses—has 99 members in the Lok Sabha and 27 in the Rajya Sabha. Along with the INDIA bloc parties and friends, the total strength would be around 300 in the two houses.
The Rajya Sabha also has parties that are said to be non-aligned. They include at least 18 members belonging to the Biju Janata Dal, which is now BJP’s rival in Odisha, and the YSR Congress, which has already signalled support for the NDA candidate, and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. These parties in the past have mostly backed the government in case of controversial legislation.
In 2017, BJP Candidate Venkaiah Naidu won with a margin of 272 votes.
In 2022, Jagdeep Dhankhar won by a margin of 346 votes.
Beyond numbers
While the BJP-led NDA holds a clear numerical advantage, the contest is also about optics and messaging.
As political parties get down to the business of electing the new Vice President, the election is being seen beyond the realm of a routine Constitutional process, a fight to maintain balance of power and strategise future alignments.
