Justice (retired) B Sudershan Reddy

NEW DELHI: Opposition’s candidate for vice president post, Justice B Sudershan Reddy, on Tuesday said he accepted INDIA bloc’s candidature as an opportunity to propagate the ideals of the Constitution – equality, fraternity, liberty and dignity – which are very “dear to him for past 55 years”.Shortly after opposition announced his candidature to contest against NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan, 79-year-old Justice Reddy spoke to TOI and said the ideals of the Constitution have been dear to him since Dec 1971 when he became a lawyer, and the bond with the book grew stronger as he became an HC judge, chief justice of an HC, and then a judge of SC.Asked why he accepted the candidature knowing that he stood no chance given that NDA has a majority in Parliament, Justice Reddy said, “What is wrong in accepting it? INDIA bloc represents 60% of the country’s population and talks of ideals of the Constitution. As a lawyer, govt advocate, as a judge of HC and then CJ of an HC and SC judge, I had been doing the same.”“No doubt, NDA has a majority. But in this election, no political party can issue a whip to its MPs. I will appeal to MPs across political parties to compare my credentials with that of the NDA candidate and vote according to their assessment as to who would be the better person to become VP,” he said.When told that it will boil down to a political fight, he said, “I am aware of it. But canvassing for support and the contest would not reflect the sharp differences and bickering that is seen in the political arena between the governing dispensation and opposition.” “What NDA group would do while seeking support for their candidate is not in my hands. But from my side it is going to be a decent and civilised discourse to seek votes,” he said.He was quick to clarify that Radhakrishnan too is a dignified and decent person and that he expected no political “tu tu main mein” in the run up to the vicepresidential election.