New Delhi [India], September 9 : Congress MP Mallu Ravi claimed on Tuesday that certain members of the National Democratic Alliance do not find it "acceptable" that the Vice Presidential candidate Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Saying that the mood has swung to "elect Justice B Sudershan Reddy" as Vice President, the Congress leader suggested that some NDA members, who might not prefer Radhakrishnan, will cross vote for the joint Opposition candidate instead.
"The mood of the nation is to elect Justice Sudershan Reddy as the Vice President of India, as everyone knows that he is committed to protecting democracy and the Constitution. The NDA candidate himself has written to all MPs saying that he is from RSS and Jan Sangh, which is not acceptable to many party members of the NDA. So, they may cross-vote for Sudershan Reddy," Mallu Ravi told ANI.
Radhakrishnan has associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Jana Sangh from a young age. He joined the BJP during the party's inception in 1980 itself.
The Congress leader however, conceded that it will be a "miracle" if Reddy is elected.
Ravi further questioned other parties, both who are abstaining, and others who are supporting the NDA candidate, claiming that they should have supported "protecting the Constitution". While Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has abstained from voting in the elections, Telegu Desam Party is an NDA ally. However, YSR Congress, the opposition party in Telangana, has supported the NDA candidate, despite not being in alliance. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also announced earlier that they will "boycott" the polls, saying that people in Punjab are "upset and angry" over not receiving assistance from the Centre or state govt.
"There will be a miracle this evening when Sudershan Reddy will be elected. Both Hanuman Beniwal and Chandrasekhar came only to support him. But what went wrong with the BRS, TDP, and YSR Congress people in supporting Sudershan Reddy when other leaders from Rajasthan and UP are coming forward to support him and protect the Constitution?" Ravi said.
Earlier today in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also expressed support for the joint opposition candidate.
"Our full support is to B. Sudershan Reddy (INDIA alliance candidate and former Supreme Court judge)," the RJD leader said.
CP Radhakrishnan seems to have the edge in elections, with the NDA candidate expected to receive 424 votes from MPs, well above the majority mark of 391. Meanwhile, B Sudershan Reddy, is backed by 354 MPs.
Currently, the Parliament comprises 781 members, including 542 in the Lok Sabha with one seat vacant and 239 in the Rajya Sabha with five seats vacant.