VP Election: Opposition's Telugu Card against BJP’s Tamil Pitch

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Opposition to argue that Reddy is more suitable to become the Vice President against Radhakrishnan, who is identified as a BJP functionary

By TRH Political Desk

NEW DELHI, August 19, 2025 — The Opposition on Tuesday named former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy as a joint candidate in the Vice President election. The Opposition M Ps later welcomed Reddy at the New Delhi Airport on his arrival.

Reddy will face Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan in the September 9 election for the post of the Vice President of India. The election is being held after Jagdeep Dhankar, former Vice President of India, resigned under mysterious circumstances.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced the candidature of Reddy in the presence of leaders from various opposition parties. “Earlier in the day, leaders from Opposition parties, including Sharad Pawar, Sanjay Raut, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Derek O’ Brien, Kanimozhi, Tiruchi Siva, John Brittas, Dharmendra Yadav, Pramod Tiwari, Rajani Patil and Arvind Sawant, met and unanimously agreed on the candidature of Justice Reddy,” said the Congress party in a media statement.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also on board with the decision, said the Congress. Kharge said that “Justice 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.”

Reddy is more known for his judgment as the SC Judge to outlaw the Salwa Judum, an armed wing consisting of former Maoist fighters in Chhattisgarh.

“He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice,” said Kharge, adding that “this Vice-Presidential contest is an ideological battle. The Opposition parties have nominated B. Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate since 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.”

With Reddy, the Opposition will be testing the strength of the NDA in Andhra Pradesh. However, state-based political observers said that the political expediency of incumbent Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, the two allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will prevail over the Telugu pride card that the Opposition seeks to cash in the Vice President election.

On similar note, Radhakrishnan is also not likely to dent the Opposition strength in Tamil Na du, with the ruling DMK and others backing the candidature of Reddy.

Reddy was born in the Ranga district of Telangana. The Opposition is likely to play the narrative that Reddy is more suitable to become the Vice President of India against Radhakrishnan, who is identified as a BJP functionary.

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