'Used SC To Support Naxalism': Amit Shah On Oppn's VP Candidate Sudershan Reddy

Last Updated:August 22, 2025, 15:05 IST

Shah said Congress has picked Reddy for VP polls under pressure from the leftists

The election for the Vice President of India will see a direct contest between Justice Reddy, backed by the INDIA bloc, and NDA's nominee C P Radhakrishnan. (PTI file)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday tore into the opposition’s Vice President candidate Sudershan Reddy, saying the former Supreme Court judge supported Naxalism while referring to the Salwa Judum judgment.

Addressing a conclave on Malayalam news website Manorama in Kochi, Shah said Congress has picked Reddy under pressure from the leftists.

“The opposition (Congress) vice-presidential candidate Sudarshan Reddy is the same person who gave the Salwa Judum judgment in support of leftist extremism and Naxalism. If this had not been done, extremism would have been eradicated by 2020. Kerala has suffered the sting of Naxalism and endured extremism as well. The people of Kerala will surely see how, under pressure from the leftists, Congress has chosen such a candidate who used a platform like the Supreme Court to support leftist extremism and Naxalism," he said.

The election for the Vice President of India will see a direct contest between Justice Reddy, backed by the INDIA bloc, and NDA’s nominee C P Radhakrishnan.

The polling for the Vice Presidential election would take place on September 9, with counting to take place the same day. The last date for filing nominations was August 21, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 25.

The Vice Presidential post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons.

The VP is elected by an electoral college, which consists of MPs from both houses of Parliament. The elections of the Vice President are governed by the provisions under Articles 64 and 68 of the Constitution. The Election Commission notifies the VP polls by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.

As per Article 66(1) of the Constitution of India, the election of the Vice President shall be held by the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

Kochi [Cochin], India, India

News politics 'Used SC To Support Naxalism': Amit Shah On Oppn's VP Candidate Sudershan Reddy

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