Former Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy was announced as the INDIA bloc’s joint candidate for the upcoming Vice-Presidential election on Tuesday. The announcement was made by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge during a meeting of opposition leaders at 10 Rajaji Marg, which was attended by key figures including NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar and TMC MP Derek O’Brien.
Speaking at the meeting, Kharge described the election as an ideological battle and highlighted that all opposition parties had agreed on nominating Justice (retired) Reddy. “This vice-presidential contest is an ideological battle, and all the opposition parties agreed on this, and this is the reason we have nominated B Sudershan Reddy as the joint candidate,” Kharge said.
TMC MP Derek O’Brien confirmed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also supporting the INDIA bloc’s choice. “AAP is also on board with INDIA bloc on Vice President choice,” he stated.
About Justice B Sudershan Reddy:
- Born on July 8, 1946, Justice Reddy enrolled as an advocate in Hyderabad with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on December 27, 1971.
- Served as a Government Pleader in the High Court (1988–90) and as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government for six months in 1990.
- Held the post of Legal Adviser and Standing Counsel for Osmania University.
- Appointed as a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 2, 1995 and later became Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in 2005.
- Elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court in 2007 and retired on July 6, 2011.
Justice Reddy presided over India’s constitutional courts for over 16 years, earning a reputation as a jurist committed to social, economic, and political justice. His nomination by the INDIA bloc marks a significant move to project a consensus candidate for the Vice President post.
