Sat Aug 30 20:19:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
In the upcoming Vice-Presidential elections in India, the opposition parties are fielding retired Supreme Court Justice B. Sudershan Reddy as their candidate against the NDA’s C.P. Radhakrishnan. The opposition emphasizes Justice Reddy’s commitment to constitutional values and social justice, contrasting him with Radhakrishnan’s background in the RSS. Justice Reddy’s past rulings, particularly the Salwa Judum case and his work on black money, showcase his dedication to accountability and civil liberties. More recently, he led a group analyzing socio-economic data in Telangana, informing social justice initiatives. His nomination is viewed as a reaffirmation of the opposition’s focus on social justice and constitutionalism.
**News Article:**
**Opposition Nominates Justice B. Sudershan Reddy for Vice-President, Framing Election as Battle for India’s Soul**
*New Delhi, August 31, 2025* – In a move setting the stage for a contentious Vice-Presidential election, opposition parties have nominated retired Supreme Court Justice B. Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate, challenging the NDA’s nominee, C.P. Radhakrishnan. The announcement, made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, framed the election as an “ideological battle for the soul of our nation,” pitting Justice Reddy’s constitutionalism against what they characterize as the RSS ideology represented by Radhakrishnan.
“This is not merely a contest for an office,” Kharge stated, “it is about the values that will guide our nation.”
Justice Reddy’s nomination highlights the opposition’s emphasis on social justice and constitutional principles, themes prominent in their 2024 Lok Sabha campaign. His tenure on the Supreme Court (2007-2011) was marked by rulings that upheld civil liberties and demanded government accountability. A notable example is the Salwa Judum case, where Justice Reddy criticized the arming of tribal youth to fight Maoists, asserting it violated constitutional guarantees.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Justice Reddy’s ruling on Naxalism. Justice Reddy asserted that the Supreme Court never asked the state to stop its fight against the Naxals but stated that the State cannot “outsource” its duty to protect its citizens. Another significant ruling that Justice Reddy authored was in the Ram Jethmalani & Ors. versus Union of India (2011), blasting governmental inertia on black money.
More recently, Justice Reddy led an expert group in Telangana that analyzed socio-economic data, providing a framework for targeted welfare programs and reservation policies.
His nomination underscores the opposition’s intent to make the Vice-Presidential election a referendum on the direction of Indian society, with the Constitution and social justice at the forefront.
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