'Parliament Where Dissent Is Respected': Opposition Pick Sudershan Reddy Files Nomination For Vice Presidential Election
Justice (Retd.) B Sudarshan Reddy said the election is not merely about one individual but about reaffirming the idea of India.
Published : August 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM IST
|Updated : August 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM IST
New Delhi: Opposition INDIA bloc's Vice-Presidential nominee and former Supreme Court judge, Justice (Retd.) B Sudershan Reddy filed his nomination for the V-P election on Thursday in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders of opposition parties.
He will contest against the NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan with elections slated for September 9. In his statement after filing the nomination, Reddy asserted that the election is not merely about one individual but about reaffirming the idea of India where Parliament functions with integrity, dissent is respected, and institutions serve the people with independence and fairness.
Reddy vowed that if elected, he would discharge the role of vice president with impartiality, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to dialogue and decorum.
"Today, I had the honour of filing my nomination papers for the office of the Vice President of India as a joint candidate of the Opposition parties. I did so with a deep sense of humility, responsibility, and unwavering commitment to the values enshrined in our Constitution," Reddy said in the statement.
"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," he said.
"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," Reddy said.
The vice president, as the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, carries the responsibility of safeguarding the highest traditions of parliamentary democracy, he said. "If elected, I pledge to discharge that role with impartiality, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to dialogue and decorum," he said.
Reddy also expressed deep 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," Reddy said.
The electoral college for the vice presidential elections comprises members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are also eligible to cast their votes. The effective strength of the electoral college is 781, and the majority mark is 391.
Reddy, the first Lokayukta of Goa, is also on the Board of Trustees of the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre in Hyderabad.
The move to pick Reddy as a joint candidate of the Opposition has made the vice-presidential election a South versus South contest. The Opposition wanted to pick a non-political face as their nominee for the second-highest constitutional post in the country.
The ruling NDA has picked Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader from Tamil Nadu with an RSS background, as its vice-presidential candidate. Radhakrishnan filed his nomination on Wednesday.
Earlier, speaking to the media shortly before filing his nomination, Reddy expressed hope of receiving support across party lines, framing the election as a contest of ideology rather than numbers. He also met several INDIA bloc allies, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, today and thanked him for his support.
"Numbers matter continues...Of course, I am hopeful. Since I don't belong to any political party, I believe everyone would support me...I made it very clear yesterday. It is the battle of ideology," said Reddy.
On Wednesday, Congress President Kharge said Reddy's nomination for the Vice Presidential elections stands as the opposition's firm commitment to restoring "fairness, impartiality, and dignity" to the functioning of the Rajya Sabha.
The Election Commission had earlier announced that polling for the Vice Presidential election would take place on September 9, with counting of votes scheduled for the same day. The last date for filing nominations is August 21, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 25.
The Vice Presidential post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons.
The VP is elected by an electoral college, which consists of MPs from both houses of Parliament. The elections of the Vice President are governed by the provisions under Articles 64 and 68 of the Constitution. The Election Commission notifies the VP polls by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.
As per Article 66(1) of the Constitution of India, the election of the Vice President shall be held by the system of proportional representation through single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
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