Top News

Nomination Filed for Vice Presidential Elections

New Delhi: On Thursday, B Sudarshan Reddy, the opposition's candidate for vice president, officially submitted his nomination for the upcoming elections. He emphasized that this election transcends individual ambitions, aiming instead to reinforce the foundational principles of India, where Parliament operates with integrity, dissent is honored, and institutions function independently for the people.

Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, was accompanied by prominent opposition figures, including Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, as well as Sharad Pawar from the NCP, Ramgopal Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, and others.

After filing his nomination, Reddy expressed his commitment to fulfilling the vice-presidential role with dignity, impartiality, and a strong dedication to constructive dialogue.

"Today, I had the privilege of submitting my nomination papers for the vice presidency of India as a united candidate from the opposition. I approach this with profound humility and a steadfast commitment to our constitutional values," he stated.

He further articulated that this election is not solely about one person but about reaffirming the vision of India as conceived by its founders—an India where Parliament operates with integrity, dissent is valued, and institutions serve the populace fairly.

As the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the vice president is tasked with upholding the highest standards of parliamentary democracy, Reddy noted.

"If elected, I promise to fulfill that role with impartiality, dignity, and a strong commitment to dialogue and decorum," he added.

Reddy submitted four sets of nomination papers to the Rajya Sabha secretary general, who also serves as the returning officer for the vice-presidential election.

A total of 160 MPs have endorsed his candidacy, including Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and others. Each nomination set includes 20 secondary proposers.

The returning officer reviewed the nomination documents and provided Reddy with an acknowledgment slip.

In a post on X, Kharge remarked, "As the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the vice president must uphold the highest traditions of parliamentary democracy. B Sudarshan Reddy's candidacy sends a strong message against the tyranny imposed by the Modi government on various institutions."

"Our united opposition is committed to safeguarding the values enshrined in the Constitution and confronting this challenge directly," he added.

Rahul Gandhi highlighted that Justice (retd) Reddy filed his nomination as the INDIA bloc candidate for vice president at the Secretary-General's Office in Parliament.

"The INDIA bloc stands firmly behind him in this endeavor to uphold the Constitution and protect our democracy," he stated in a Facebook post.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh emphasized that the opposition is not solely focused on the election results but aims to convey that this is a battle of ideologies, with Reddy representing constitutional values.

He urged all parties to support Reddy and confirmed that the opposition will reach out to various groups to gather backing for the esteemed jurist.

"The vice presidential elections are scheduled for September 9. The government candidate aligns with RSS ideology, while our joint candidate is a distinguished retired judge who upholds constitutional, secular, and democratic principles," Ramesh stated.

"This contest is not merely between two individuals or for a position; it represents a clash of ideologies, which is why we are determined to contest this election and send a clear message to the nation that this is not a one-sided affair," he added.

The electoral college for the vice presidential elections consists of members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated Rajya Sabha members.

The total strength of the electoral college is 781, with a majority threshold of 391.

Selecting Reddy as the opposition's joint candidate has turned the vice-presidential election into a South versus South contest, as the opposition aimed to nominate a non-political figure for this significant constitutional role.

The ruling NDA has nominated Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, an experienced BJP leader from Tamil Nadu with an RSS background, as its candidate. Radhakrishnan submitted his nomination on Wednesday.

The ruling party has the backing of at least 422 members, with non-INDIA bloc parties like YSRCP already pledging support for Radhakrishnan.

Reddy, who was the first Lokayukta of Goa, also serves on the Board of Trustees of the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre in Hyderabad. He began his legal career as an advocate specializing in civil and constitutional law at the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Born on July 8, 1946, in Akula Mylaram village in the Rangareddy district of present-day Telangana, he completed his early education in Hyderabad and obtained his law degree from Osmania University in 1971.

---