New Delhi: The opposition INDIA alliance has officially named former Supreme Court judge B Sudarshan Reddy as its candidate for the upcoming vice-presidential election. The announcement was made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during a press conference. The alliance’s choice was unanimously supported, as confirmed by Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh.
Vice-Presidential Election Context
The vice-presidential election, scheduled for September 9, 2025, comes in the wake of the sudden resignation of the incumbent Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar last month. The last date for filing nominations is August 21, and the election will see MPs from both houses of Parliament cast their votes through a secret ballot under the proportional representation system, as outlined in Article 66(1) of the Constitution.
Mr Reddy will contest the election against the NDA alliance’s candidate, CP Radhakrishnan. Both candidates are set to file their nominations on August 21.
Who is B Sudarshan Reddy?
Born on July 8, 1946, in Akula Mailaram village of Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh, B Sudarshan Reddy hails from an agricultural family. He completed his law degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad, in 1971, after which he enrolled as an advocate and started practicing mainly in writ and civil matters.
Reddy began his career working with senior advocates at the Andhra Pradesh High Court and later served as Government Pleader (1988-1990) and Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government in 1990. He also served as Legal Advisor and Standing Counsel for Osmania University.
Judicial Career Highlights
- Andhra Pradesh High Court: Appointed Additional Judge on May 2, 1993, and later became a permanent judge on May 2, 1995.
- Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court: Elevated to Chief Justice on December 5, 2005.
- Supreme Court of India: Appointed as a Judge on January 12, 2007, and served until his retirement on July 8, 2011.
- Lokayukta of Goa: Appointed the first Lokayukta of Goa in March 2013 but resigned in October 2013 due to personal reasons.
Throughout his judicial tenure, Reddy earned a reputation as a progressive and courageous jurist. He has consistently championed social, economic, and political justice and delivered landmark judgments favoring the marginalized and protecting constitutional rights.
