New Delhi [India], August 19 : The Vice Presidential election race has accelerated with the opposition parties naming retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its joint candidate for the Vice Presidential elections.
The opposition seems confident that their candidate will win the VP elections while asserting that the battle was "ideological" more than anything else. However, the ruling side has also expressed confidence in their candidate's victory, saying that their (opposition's) "defeat was certain."
The leaders from opposition parties held a presser in New Delhi, which included NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and TMC's Derek O'Brien, among others.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that the collective decision by all opposition parties to nominate retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate for the Vice Presidential election was a "huge achievement of democracy."
Addressing a press conference here, Kharge said the opposition was united in its stand against injustice, especially when democracy and the constitution were under threat.
"All opposition parties have nominated B Sudershan Reddy garu as their joint candidate for the position of the Vice President of India. I am glad that all opposition parties are ready to fight collectively. This is a huge achievement of democracy. Because the opposition stands united against injustice whenever democracy and the constitution are under threat," Kharge said.
The Rajya Sabha MP argued that B Sudershan Reddy, who he said was a progressive jurist, represents the values that shaped India's freedom movement. He asserted that all these values are under assault.
Reddy will file nomination on August 21, Kharge said, adding, "All opposition parties' MPs are meeting in the central hall at 1 o'clock."
Derek O'Brien said, "All opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), are on board."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended his greetings to Reddy and said that the opposition stands united in this "ideological battle".
"I warmly congratulate B Sudershan Reddy Garu on being nominated as the joint opposition candidate for the Vice President of India. A distinguished jurist and champion of justice, he represents the spirit of our Constitution - safeguarding people's rights, equality and our Democracy. We stand united in this ideological battle and wish him all the very best," Gandhi posted on X.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan said that the Vice Presidential election is a contest between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and a social justice supporter.
"He (B Sudershan Reddy) was not a politician, but a judge, who was for social justice. This is a fight between RSS and a social justice supporter. Naturally, it is a clash of policies. CP Radhakrishnan says he was in the RSS from his early years. How can we support him? It is an ideological war," Elangovan told ANI.
He further stated that Maharashtra Governor and NDA Vice Presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan should have fought for Tamils since the state was being deprived of funds by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for which the latter works.
"BJP is insulting Tamil Nadu and its people. They are not giving money to the state. They aim to hinder Tamil Nadu's development. CP Radhakrishnan should have fought for the Tamils. He didn't do that. He works for the BJP, which is against Tamil Nadu, so how can he expect us to vote for him?" Elangovan said.
As this happened, the BJP and its allies have expressed confidence in CP Radhakrishnan sweeping the VP elections while taking a jibe at the opposition for pitching a candidate despite knowing their defeat was certain.
Union Minister SP Singh Baghel said that an appeal was made that the Vice President be elected unanimously.
"A public appeal was made that if the Vice President is elected unanimously, it will be good for democracy. But anyone can contest in a democracy. So, the opposition has lost several opportunities; they have opposed good candidates and fielded another candidate, despite knowing that their defeat is certain," Baghel told ANI.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said that his party will support CP Radhakrishnan's candidature for the VP elections. He further stated that the INDIA bloc chose a candidate who hails from the south because PM Modi announced Radhakrishnan's candidature.
"I am happy that at least now the Opposition, the INDIA bloc, recognises there are states down south of India. So, this has happened because PM Modi has announced CP Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu. As an NDA partner, we are in full support of the candidate announced by the NDA, CP Radhakrishnan. We are totally confident that with the numbers that we have in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the states as well, that we will come out not only with flying colours but with a much bigger majority than the last time," Devarayalu told ANI.
Meanwhile, Reddy expressed gratitude towards the INDIA bloc for naming him as the joint opposition candidate and appealed to all Members of Parliament to support his candidature.
"Thank you for projecting me as a candidate on behalf of the INDIA Alliance. But for (sic) you, it would not have been possible...As a candidate, I would humbly request and appeal to all the Parliamentarians to support my candidature," Reddy told reporters here.
When asked about him and his competition being from southern India, Reddy said that "south, north, east, west" doesn't matter since both - him and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan - were Indian nationals.
"It is the Parliamentarians who elect the Vice President. Political parties may sponsor the candidates. There is only one citizenship in this country. CP Radhakrishnan and I are Indian nationals. Whether it is South, North, East, or West, nothing matters," Reddy said.
The VP is elected through an electoral college, which consists of MPs from both houses of Parliament.
The election of the Vice President is 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 by means of single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.