The Opposition INDIA bloc has chosen Justice B Sudershan Reddy (retd) as its candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election scheduled for September 9, 2025. The former Supreme Court judge will face off against CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA's candidate, who is the Governor of Maharashtra and a prominent BJP leader from Tamil Nadu.

As the Vice Presidential election approaches, let’s take a closer look at Justice Reddy's life and career, and why he has become the Opposition’s choice for this crucial post.

5 Key Facts About Justice B Sudershan Reddy

1. Early Life and Education
   Born on July 8, 1946, in Akula Mylaram village, which is now part of Rangareddy district in Telangana, Justice B Sudershan Reddy hails from a farming family. He graduated in Law from Osmania University, Hyderabad, in 1971, before becoming a member of the Andhra Pradesh Bar Council.

2. Legal Career
   Justice Reddy began his legal career as an advocate and handled civil and writ cases in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He worked as a government pleader between 1988 and 1990 and later served as the legal adviser and standing counsel for Osmania University.

3. Judiciary Career
   Reddy was appointed a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 1995 and was promoted to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in 2005. In 2007, he was appointed as a Supreme Court judge, where he served until his retirement in 2011.

4. Lokayukta of Goa
   In 2013, Justice Reddy was appointed as the first Lokayukta of Goa. However, he resigned from the post in September 2013, citing personal reasons.

5. Political Endorsement
   During a press conference, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hailed Justice Reddy as one of the most distinguished and progressive jurists in India. Kharge praised him for his unwavering commitment to social, economic, and political justice and described him as a strong protector of the Constitution and fundamental rights.

Justice Reddy’s candidacy is seen as a significant move by the Opposition to bring a respected figure with a stellar legal background into the contest for the Vice Presidential election.

Election Details

The Vice Presidential election will be held on September 9, 2025, and the deadline for submitting nominations is August 21, 2025. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on August 22, and August 25 is the last date for withdrawal of candidacies. The election follows the unexpected resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, the current Vice President, due to health concerns. However, some reports suggest that differences with the BJP could have played a role in his decision to step down earlier than expected.

As the election nears, the Opposition’s choice of Justice Reddy presents a direct challenge to the BJP’s CP Radhakrishnan, and political analysts are closely watching how the Opposition bloc navigates this high-stakes contest. While the BJP is expected to have the upper hand in the race, the Opposition hopes that Justice Reddy’s candidacy will rally support for their ideological stance on key issues.