Vice-President polls: INDIA bloc candidate Sudershan Reddy targets RSS, urges dignified contest

INDIA alliance Vice-Presidential nominee, former Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy. (Screengrab: X/ani)

INDIA alliance Vice-Presidential nominee and former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy has called for a respectful election campaign, urging parties to avoid hostility and personal attacks.

Speaking to ANI in Delhi, Reddy said, “I want this to be one of the most decent elections held in recent times in India. No hostility, no personal accusations, no comments about individuals, because a person aspiring to sit in that high constitutional office should practice what they preach.”

Reddy said he harbours no personal dislike for any ideology but expressed strong differences with the functioning of the RSS. “I am a liberal constitutional democrat. I believe in the idea of secularism, social justice, and Baba Saheb's ideology of fraternity,” he said.

Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s push for a caste survey, Reddy noted that the demand had largely been met. “He has already achieved 90 per cent of his success. After the Telangana caste survey, the Prime Minister and the government of India have responded, and in fact, one should be grateful to them that while conducting the national census, which is a statutory exercise, a caste survey also would be done along with that. What else is Rahul Gandhi required to achieve?” he remarked.

Reddy also revealed how his candidature came about. “I had never thought that I would contest the Vice-President elections. The move first came from the Congress party. Some important functionaries of the Congress party set the ball rolling, and I expressed my view that it may be difficult for me to be a candidate of any particular political party, but if the parties of the INDIA alliance agree and consider me as a candidate, then I will contest,” he said.