New Delhi: Opposition’s Vice Presidential candidate B. Sudarshan Reddy on Thursday filed his nomination papers in the presence of top Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, submitted four sets of nomination papers before the Rajya Sabha Secretary General (who is also the Returning Officer for the Vice Presidential election).
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, Trinamool Congress’s Shatabdi Roy, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, CPI(M)’s John Brittas were among the opposition leaders present for the nomination. Around 160 MPs have signed as proposers and seconders. The Returning Officer scrutinised the nomination documents and handed over an acknowledgement slip to Reddy.
The electoral college for the Vice Presidential election comprises members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are also eligible to cast their vote. The effective number of the electoral college is 781 and the majority figure is 391. The ruling NDA has fielded CP Radhakrishnan. The ruling party has the support of at least 422 members. Parties other than the opposition alliance like YSRCP have already announced their support to Radhakrishnan.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kharge introduced him to the leaders of the constituent parties. Leaders of other opposition parties, including Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi, were present to welcome Sudarshan, who arrived with Kharge in the Central Hall of Parliament. All the allies of the alliance put forth their views in the meeting with him.
Before the nomination, Kharge had said that B. Sudarshan Reddy is the joint candidate of the opposition for the post of Vice President. The Vice Presidential election is not just a competition for a post. It is an ideological battle for the soul of our nation. While the ruling party has chosen the ideology of the RSS, we consider the Constitution and its values as our guide.
Kharge said that the tendency to suppress the voice of the opposition in Parliament is increasing. Parliament is working as a tool to advance the ideology of the ruling party. Many important bills are being passed without proper deliberation. At the same time, Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said, the unity of the opposition is unbroken. We have Sudarshan, so the defeat of the Kauravas (NDA) is certain. During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi mentioned his Bihar visit and described Sudarshan as the basis of the victory of opposition unity.
The opposition alliance will organize a mock poll on September 8 to familiarize the members with the nuances of the election. Its purpose is to inform all the members to exercise their franchise in the Vice Presidential election.
Bills were also opposed. In the meeting, opposition MPs also registered their protest against the Constitution Amendment Bill which weakens the basic values of parliamentary democracy and federalism. Kharge condemned keeping it at the end of the session. TMC, SP, NCP (SP), TMC, RJD, JMM, Shiv Sena UBT, Kerala Congress M, IUML, DMK, Left parties and other parties of India Alliance participated in the meeting.
