I.N.D.I.A. bloc names former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as Vice President candidate

New Delhi: Opposition on Tuesday named former Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy as its “joint candidate” for the September 9 Vice Presidential elections, which it termed an “ideological battle” against the BJP-led NDA which has nominated Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan.

If the BJP intended to put the DMK in a spot by choosing a Tamil as the NDA candidate, a section in the Opposition believes they have returned fire by choosing a Telugu that could create a political dilemma for N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP and K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS.

AAP, which has left the I.N.D.I.A bloc, has also pledged its support to Justice Reddy, as the I.N.D.I.A leaders maintained he is a “joint Opposition candidate and not just the bloc's”. Sources said Arvind Kejriwal was briefed by Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien about the consensus reached over the candidate following which the AAP chief gave his party’s green signal.

The name was given the final stamp at a meeting of I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's official residence here, which was preceded by a meeting on Monday evening and late night consultations among top leaders. Sources said they were pitching the battle as “Constitution and Idea of India versus RSS-BJP”.

The announcement also caps two days of intense consultations during which names of former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai, Mahatma Gandhi's great grandson Tushar Gandhi and former Rajya Sabha MP Bhalchandra Mungekar among others also cropped up.

Flanked by I.N.D.I.A leaders, Kharge told a press conference, “This Vice Presidential contest is an ideological battle. All Opposition parties have nominated Justice B Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate...Justice Reddy is one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists.”

“He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice. He reflects, fully, the values that shaped our country’s freedom movement so profoundly, and the values on which our country’s Constitution and democracy have been anchored. All these values are under assault and therefore, our collective and determined resolve to fight this election,” Kharge said.

He also said the “Opposition MPs” would be meeting in ‘Samvidhan Sadan’s’ Central Hall on Wednesday at 1 PM with Justice Reddy, who reached the capital in the evening. Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien highlighted that Kharge referred to the “Opposition” and “not I.N.D.I.A bloc” and added, “AAP is also on board”.

While DMK was of the view that Annadurai be chosen as the joint candidate as it could help them avoid questions on opposing a fellow Tamil, Radhakrishnan, sources said there was an overwhelming view in the bloc that they should not reduce it to “Tamil vs Tamil” fight.

Sources said SP’s Ramgopal Yadav opposed Gandhi’s name saying he had joined the party a few years ago and contested a Lok Sabha election but they have no information about him afterwards. The leaders then zeroed in on 79-year-old Reddy, Goa's first Lokayukta and who was in the Supreme Court bench that annulled the Salwa Judum.

As senior MP Kanimozhi on the instructions of MK Stalin lobbied for Annadurai’s candidature, sources said Kharge on Monday night dialled the DMK chief and briefed him about the consensus over Justice Reddy. Stalin is learnt to have agreed with Kharge and gave his stamp of approval.

With the Congress floating Justice Reddy’s name and Trinamool pushing it, other parties also fell in line. Incidentally, Justice Reddy was the Chairman of the Expert Group for Telangana Caste Census set up by the Congress-led government in the state.

Before being elevated to the Supreme Court from where he retired in July 2011, he was a Judge in the Andhra Pradesh High Court and Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court.