metro india news  I hyderabad

Alleging that his rival and ruling NDA nominee C P Radhakrishnan is "neither visible nor speaking," Opposition's Vice Presidential candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy on Monday emphasised the need for a healthy debate during the ongoing election campaign. Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, attended by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other ruling Congress leaders, the former Supreme Court judge said he favoured open discussions and had no intention of disparaging his opponent.

"My rival is not visible. He does not speak. It is not known where he is or what he is doing. If both candidates speak, there could be a meaningful debate," Sudershan Reddy remarked. He added that he has been actively engaging with the media daily, and his comments were aimed at fostering constructive conversation. "Every day I am speaking to the media. I made the comment with the view that a healthy conversation would have taken place if he (Radhakrishnan) also spoke," he clarified.

When asked about the most pressing constitutional challenge facing India, he highlighted the "deficiency" in the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) as the critical issue. "If it continues in the same direction, the democracy in this country would be in peril... That's what I believe," he warned, underscoring the potential threat to the nation's democratic fabric.

Sudershan Reddy, who has received support from non-INDI bloc parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), described the Vice Presidential contest as an extension of his long journey with the Constitution. He expressed optimism that this election would be one of the fairest and most decent in recent Indian history. "Ours is not a majoritarian state. Ours is a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious society. The Constitution does not give power to anyone. The Constitution's job is to limit your power," he stated, emphasizing the document's role in safeguarding diversity and restraining authority.

The event at Taj Krishna Hotel served as an introduction program for Reddy as the INDIA alliance's candidate, drawing leaders from CPI, CPM, and Congress, including PCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, and AICC Secretary Naseer Hussain.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy urges United Telugu support for Justice Sudershan Reddy

In his address, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy called for unified support from Telugu people for Justice B Sudershan Reddy, highlighting the opportunity to elevate Telugu prestige nationally. Recalling past leaders such as Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, PV Narasimha Rao, Jaipal Reddy and Venkaiah Naidu etc, he noted the current lack of prominent Telugu figures in national politics. Reddy praised the INDIA alliance's decision to field Sudershan Reddy, providing stiff competition to NDA, which he accused of aiming to amend the Constitution and abolish reservations, while INDIA seeks to protect democracy.

He termed the recent VP resignation surprising and appealed personally to leaders like Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, YS Jagan, K Chandrashekar Rao, and Owaisi, plus 42 Lok Sabha MPs and 18 Rajya Sabha members from Telugu states, to vote conscientiously. "If Justice Sudershan Reddy wins, Telugu prestige will rise," he said, noting Reddy's vast experience and non-partisan stance focused on constitutional protection.