Initially, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a key constituent of the INDIA bloc, desired a Tamil candidate to counter the political dividends that the BJP hopes to reap from Tamil Nadu by fielding Radhakrishnan. Nonetheless, “there was a realisation that as an alternative of merely coming throughout as reactive, the Opposition ought to exploit the fault traces within the NDA as an alternative”, a senior MP informed ThePrint.

Following the announcement, DMK Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi, who additionally attended the assembly debating the V-P selection at Kharge’s residence, mentioned the Opposition had picked a face who valued the Structure of India to battle in opposition to an individual with a “Hindutva and RSS background”.

“Individuals who care about this nation will certainly vote for Justice Reddy. Simply since you (BJP) have a candidate from Tamil Nadu, doesn’t imply you care about Tamil Nadu, Tamil language or values of the state. They haven’t allotted funds; they’re imposing Hindi; they’re attempting to rewrite our historical past. They haven’t any respect for the folks of Tamil Nadu,” she mentioned.

Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Get together (TDP), a key NDA ally, and its rival, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Get together (YSRCP), have already declared their assist for Radhakrishnan. Whether or not the Opposition’s transfer will immediate a rethink in both camp stays to be seen.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs kind the electoral faculty, which at the moment has 782 Members of Parliament. The V-P candidate should cross the midway mark of 392 to win. Within the Lok Sabha, the NDA holds 293 MPs, and the Opposition instructions the assist of practically 234 MPs. Within the Rajya Sabha, the NDA enjoys the backing of roughly 130 MPs.

Among the many Telugu events, the TDP has 16 MPs within the Lok Sabha and two within the Rajya Sabha, and the YSRCP has 4 Lok Sabha MPs and 7 Rajya Sabha members. One other Telugu celebration in Telangana, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, is represented by three MPs within the Rajya Sabha.

Kharge, flanked by a number of prime Opposition leaders, described V-P candidate Sudershan Reddy as one of the distinguished and progressive jurists in India. Earlier than serving as a Supreme Courtroom decide from 2007 to 2011, Justice Reddy served because the Chief Justice of the Gauhati Excessive Courtroom in Assam and a decide within the Andhra Pradesh Excessive Courtroom.

In 2013, appointed Goa’s first Lokayukta, Sudershan Reddy stepped down inside months, citing private causes.

By the way, Justice Reddy headed the three-member committee constituted by Vice President Hamid Ansari in 2009 underneath the Judges Inquiry Act to probe allegations in opposition to then Calcutta Excessive Courtroom Decide Soumitro Sen after a movement to question him was admitted within the Rajya Sabha.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha chief Derek O’Brien mentioned the Aam Aadmi Get together—not formally part of the INDIA bloc anymore—had lent its assist to Justice Reddy.

“It was a unanimous selection,” Kharge informed a press convention after the Opposition’s assembly.

Nationalist Congress Get together (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, DMK Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva, whose title was additionally thought-about by the Opposition as a possible candidate, Communist Get together of India (Marxist) normal secretary M.A. Child, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, and Samajwadi Get together’s Dharmendra Yadav had been amongst those that attended the assembly at Kharge’s home.

Within the 2022 vice presidential election, NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar defeated the Opposition candidate, Margaret Alva, by a margin of 346 votes—the best since 1997. The TMC, on the time, broke ranks with the Opposition and abstained from voting, accusing the Congress of trying to impose its resolution on allies with none consultations.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

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