The INDIA bloc on Tuesday named former Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election. Before his tenure in the apex court, Reddy served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, retiring from the Supreme Court in 2011. Announcing the joint nominee, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the contest was an “ideological battle,” stressing that all Opposition parties are united and warning that “democratic values are under attack.”
00:00The India Bloc has come in. India today got you the inside scoop first and now that has been confirmed as the India Bloc has picked former Supreme Court Judge Sudarshan Reddy.
00:15In fact, there was consensus as far as this particular name was concerned by all the opposition parties.
00:21B. Sudarshan Reddy was born on the 8th of July 1946, was enrolled as advocate at Hyderabad with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on December 27, 1971.
00:32He has in fact practiced in writ and civil matters in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
00:37He has also worked as government pleader in the High Court during 1988-1990.
00:43The opposition Bloc looking at him as a non-political voice and the perfect pick, as they say, for the vice presidential candidate for the India Bloc.
00:55Maria Shakil is with me on the phone line for further details on B. Sudarshan Reddy.
01:02Yes, so let's do a quick recap for our viewers as to who Mr. Sudarshan Reddy is.
01:06He is one of the most renowned jurists that you can think of, a former Supreme Court judge, respected across the board.
01:14You know, I've been speaking to some leaders in Andhra Pradesh over the last few minutes, and all of them, you know, have highly praised him.
01:24But look at the political calculations which have been done by the India Bloc here.
01:29This is essentially to send a message to the TDP, the YCard CP and the BRS.
01:37The TDP in particular is an alliance partner of the BJP at the centre.
01:42Mr. Naidu is going to travel to New Delhi tomorrow for the nomination papers which will be filed.
01:49Now he will have to perhaps do a rethink.
01:52Will there be a rethink is a larger question here.
01:55Now, looking at the cards which are there before Jagan Reddy.
02:01Jagan Reddy so far has been, you know, backing the BJP in its decisions.
02:07But because he is not an alliance partner of the BJP in any form, can Jagan Reddy then join the India Bloc in backing the candidacy?
02:17That remains to be safe.
02:18But as far as the BRS is concerned, they have four MPs in the Rajesh Abha.
02:23The question also before, you know, Mr. KCR and Mr. KTR would be, can they afford not to back someone who is from United Andhra?
02:34So just a quick recap also for the viewers as to who he is.
02:38He comes from the Rangadedi district, which is now in Telangana.
02:42He was born in United Andhra Pradesh.
02:45He is a former Supreme Court judge.
02:47He is from Telangana at present, but he was born in United Andhra Pradesh.
02:51So this is a bit of a quandary, I would say, for both the parties in both the states, in Andhra and also in Telangana.
03:00Right, Maria, I request you to stay on with us as our colleague Nagarjun Dwarkanath had also spoken to Mr. B. Sudarshan Reddy a short while ago.
03:13Let's listen in to what he had said.
03:16Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Nagarjun.
03:18Sir, the opposition has announced your name as a vice presidential candidate.
03:21Yes, yes, yes, I think so. Just now I was also watching and I'm on way to airport.
03:25How do you, sir, what's your first reaction, sir, that you have been chosen as the candidate for the opposition?
03:32You see, it's going to be what you call an ideological perception issue.
03:41Yes, sir.
03:41Since it is India Alliance nomination, I thought it would be appropriate to continue the request made by the national leadership.
03:59And as you know, India Alliance, almost represent more than 60% of the population.
04:12Okay.
04:14Notwithstanding their numbers in both the houses.
04:21Yes.
04:21So, I consider myself as a candidate representing more than 60% of India's population.
04:32Okay.
04:32Sir, and are you hopeful that the election will go your way because would you also appeal to the government?
04:38Beg your pardon, beg your pardon.
04:39Would you also appeal to the other parties of the NDA to support you in this candidature?
04:44Of course, because it is not what you call, there is nothing like a whip.
04:48Only because I am sponsored by the India Alliance, it does not mean that I don't appeal to all the parties to consider my request and accept my candidature.
05:05Fine.
05:05Thank you so much, sir.
05:06I would appeal to all the NDA Constituents and such of those parties which are neither part of the NDA nor the India Alliance.
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