In a fervent appeal to Members of Parliament ahead of the vice presidential election, Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy on Sunday urged lawmakers to let conscience—not party loyalty—guide their choice. He asserted that by entrusting him with the office, they would help ensure that the Rajya Sabha remains a true temple of democracy.
In a video message to MPs, Reddy said he was seeking their support not for himself, but for the values that define India as a sovereign democratic republic.
“In this election, there is no party whip, and the ballot is secret,” Reddy said in the over 12-minute address. “It is not loyalty to any political party, but love for the country that must guide your choice. Each one of you carries the moral responsibility to preserve the conscience and soul of our beloved nation.”
He continued: “Together, let us strengthen our Republic and create a legacy that future generations will be proud to inherit.”
Addressing lawmakers with humility and a deep sense of responsibility, Reddy said he stood before them as a candidate for the Vice President’s office not out of personal ambition, but from a collective resolve to uphold the spirit of democracy.
“India’s democracy was built on the supreme sacrifices of our freedom fighters and nurtured over decades by their vision,” he said. “Today, as that democratic space shrinks and citizens’ rights come under strain, it is our duty to defend the soul of our democratic Republic.”
Reddy emphasized that his candidacy represents not a personal aspiration, but a shared commitment to protecting and strengthening India’s democratic fabric.
The vice presidential election, scheduled for September 9, will be a direct contest between ruling NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan and joint opposition candidate Reddy. Though the numbers favor the NDA, the Opposition has framed the contest as an ideological battle.
Reddy, 79, retired from the Supreme Court in July 2011 and is widely regarded as a veteran jurist known for landmark rulings that held the executive accountable. He famously criticized the Union government for its laxity in investigating black money cases and declared the controversial Salwa Judum—set up by the Chhattisgarh government to counter Naxals—unconstitutional.
As a Supreme Court judge, he also directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to take comprehensive measures for the retrieval of unaccounted wealth stashed abroad.
