Opposition sets up AP vs TN fight in V-P poll, seeks Telugu parties’ support

The Congress-led Opposition on Tuesday nominated former Supreme Court judge B Sudarshan Reddy as its joint candidate for the September 9 vice-presidential election, setting the stage for a contest between two leaders from South India.

Andhra Pradesh-born Reddy will challenge the ruling BJP-led NDA nominee, CP Radhakrishnan, a Tamil Nadu-born RSS leader, for the position of the second-highest constitutional office in India. Radhakrishnan is currently the Maharashtra Governor.

With this move, the Opposition today used the BJP's own strategy to hit back at the ruling alliance which had, by fielding Radhakrishnan, sought to create a moral dilemma for Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, a major Opposition ally. The DMK, however, dubbed Radhakrishnan's nomination as "pure politik with the 2026 Tamil Nadu polls in mind".

After fielding Sudarshan Reddy, who arrived in Delhi today, Telangana Chief Minister and Congress leader Revanth Reddy urged Telugu heartland parties, including the ruling NDA ally TDP, to back the Opposition candidate.

The TDP, however, made it clear there was no ambiguity in its support for Radhakrishnan.

Revanth Reddy, meanwhile, said, "Sudarshan Reddy is not a member of the Congress. He is a constitutional expert. It is very good for the country that a constitutional expert becomes the Vice-President. I request all MPs of the TDP, YSRCP, BRS and AIMIM to vote for him."

Importantly, Sudarshan Reddy was chairman, independent expert committee, which the Congress-ruled Telangana Government had formed to study the methodology it adopted for the famous caste census survey.

The committee has described the exercise as scientific and following this, the Telangana Government had passed two reservation Bills. The first earmarked a 42 per cent quota for the OBCs in the education and employment sectors and the other in political representation. Both these Bills are pending with President Droupadi Murmu.

Given this, the Opposition also sought to blunt the BJP's move of fielding an OBC — Radhakrishnan — for the V-P post.

Sudarshan Reddy's name was announced today at the residence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who was flanked by all Opposition stalwarts — NCP (SP)'s Sharad Pawar, TMC's Derek O'Brien, CPM's MA Baby, SP's Dharmendra Yadav, DMK's Kanimozhi and others.

Privately, Congress sources said Sudarshan Reddy's nomination would help the Opposition garner "at least 50 additional votes because there is no whip in the V-P poll and MPs can vote freely".

The Tribune has learnt that the earlier shortlisted candidate proposed by the DMK — former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai from Tamil Nadu — could not be contacted for the offer. DMK MP Tiruchi Siva's name came up but the Opposition alliance stuck to fielding a non-political person.

His name was eventually proposed by the Congress and Left parties and firmly backed by the TMC. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is personally learnt to have called him up to make the offer.

After the meeting of Opposition leaders today at Kharge's residence, the Congress chief announced the following: "B Sudarshan Reddy is one of India's most distinguished and progressive jurists. He has had a long and eminent legal career, including as judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court and judge of the Supreme Court."

Kharge said Reddy has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice.

"This vice-presidential contest is an ideological battle. The Opposition has nominated Reddy as its joint candidate since he fully reflects the values that shaped our country's freedom movement so profoundly and the values on which our country's Constitution and democracy have been conquered. All these values are under assault and therefore are a collective and determined result to fight the selection," Kharge said.

Reddy will file his nomination on August 21 and meet all Opposition MPs tomorrow in Parliament. Incidentally, even the YSRCP had yesterday declared support for NDA's Radhakrishnan.