Reddy seeks support from Bihar, says INDIA bloc represents 63% population

INDIA bloc’s Vice-President nominee, former Supreme Court judge Sudarshan Reddy, on Thursday (September 4, 2025) visited Patna to seek the support of Bihar’s Opposition leaders.

Mr. Reddy said that democracy was in danger and like Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, showed a copy of the Constitution while speaking to the press.

Accompanied by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Mr. Reddy praised Bihar and called it the land of Buddha and Ashoka. He said Mahatma Gandhi launched the Satyagraha from Champaran in the State and said that talks of welfare and social justice started from Bihar thousands of years ago.

“The election for the post of Vice-President is not only a post but a supreme post of the Constitution. There have been several people who did not belong to any party but still served the post. I will not become a member of any party,” he said.

“The INDIA bloc represents 63% of the country’s population. How can I refuse to contest the election if the majority of the population is asking me,” he asked.

Mr. Reddy said the “post of Vice-President is not limited to being the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, but it is a symbol of democratic dignity and constitutional balance.”

“When the voice of the Opposition is being suppressed in Parliament, Bills are being passed without discussion and statements of MPs are being removed from the record, then it is necessary that the Vice-President remains impartial and maintains the dignity of the House,” he said.

Mr. Yadav said the country wants to know if Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as Vice-President, was unwell. “Even his medical bulletin was not issued,” he said.

On Mr. Reddy’s candidature, he said, “Justice Reddy does not come from any party, he comes from the soul of the Constitution. His honesty, impartiality and love for justice need no introduction. This is the reason why this election is a fight between democracy and dictatorship.”

Mr. Reddy was accompanied by Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani and Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram and State Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru.