New Delhi, Aug 21: Opposition nominee for the vice-presidential election, former Supreme Court judge B Sudarshan Reddy, on Thursday said the contest was not about one individual but about reaffirming the “idea of India,” where Parliament functions with integrity, dissent is respected, and institutions act with independence and fairness.
After filing his nomination papers, Reddy said he was entering the race with “humility, responsibility, and unwavering commitment” to constitutional values.
“My life in public service — as a judge of the Supreme Court, as a student of law, and as a citizen rooted in democratic traditions — has taught me that the true strength of India lies in the dignity of every individual, the protection of constitutional morality, and unity in diversity,” he said in a statement.
Stressing the importance of the vice president’s role as chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Reddy pledged to uphold impartiality, dignity, and decorum. “If elected, I will discharge this role with steadfast commitment to dialogue and to preserving the highest traditions of parliamentary democracy,” he added.
He also expressed gratitude to Opposition leaders for reposing faith in him and to citizens “who continue to inspire this collective struggle for justice, equality, and harmony.”
Reddy filed his nomination in the presence of senior Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi.
The electoral college for the vice-presidential polls comprises 781 members of Parliament, with the majority mark set at 391. Nominated Rajya Sabha members are also eligible to vote.
Reddy, who was also the first Lokayukta of Goa, currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre in Hyderabad. Opposition parties chose him as a non-political face for the second-highest constitutional office, making the election a “South versus South” contest.
The ruling NDA has fielded Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu with an RSS background, who filed his nomination on Wednesday.
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