VP Election 2025: Opposition Candidate Reddy Stresses Values and Cooperation Over Confrontation

Congress-led INDIA bloc's candidate for Vice President of India, former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, addressed MPs on Sunday, emphasizing that voting for him is "not just about an individual, but a vote for the spirit of India itself."

Reddy highlighted the importance of cooperation over confrontation in a democracy. "Democracy thrives on cooperation, not confrontation, and my strength lies in listening, mediating, and building consensus," he said in a message to MPs. The voting is scheduled for September 9 to elect the next Vice President, who will succeed Jagdeep Dhankhar, and will also become the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. His opponent is CP Radhakrishnan, a BJP-RSS veteran and current Governor of Maharashtra, backed by the ruling NDA.

Reddy reminded MPs that there is no party whip in this election, meaning parties cannot issue binding voting instructions. He urged lawmakers to let "love for the country guide your choice," stressing that his candidature is about upholding democratic values, not personal ambition. "I seek your support not for myself, but for values that define us as a sovereign democratic republic," he said.

He further noted that the Rajya Sabha must remain a chamber where national interests prevail over partisan concerns, and warned that India's democratic space is shrinking, making it the duty of leaders to defend the republic's core values. "My candidature is not a personal aspiration but a collective effort to protect our democratic fabric," Reddy added.

While the election is largely seen as symbolic, given NDA's majority for CP Radhakrishnan, Reddy's candidature sends a message of Opposition unity. The next Vice President will serve a full five-year term, rather than the remaining period of Dhankhar's tenure. Dhankhar's resignation, officially due to ill-health, has sparked widespread speculation and discussion.