Supporting opposition’s V-P candidate could strain Andhra CM’s ties with the BJP; opposing him may be seen as ignoring Telugu pride
NEW DELHI — Opposition’s joint Vice-Presidential candidate Justice B Sudarshan Reddy met Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal here on Thursday, seeking his party’s support. Following the meeting at his residence, Kejriwal announced that AAP would “use its full strength” to ensure Reddy’s victory, describing him as “not a candidate of the ruling or opposition bloc, but of the entire country.”
Kejriwal appealed to MPs across party lines to vote in the “national interest” for an impartial Vice-President. “This election is through a secret ballot, and no whip applies. I appeal to all MPs to vote according to their conscience,” he said.
Praising Reddy’s judicial record, Kejriwal said, “Justice Reddy has delivered landmark judgments with courage. If a person like him becomes Vice-President, the dignity of the constitutional post will be enhanced.”
Telugu Pride
Asked by Clarion India about the support from his home state of Andhra Pradesh, Justice Reddy evaded a direct reply, but tersely said that he was not apolitical.
However, latching on the question, Kejriwal strongly underlined Justice Reddy’s roots in Andhra Pradesh, calling it a matter of pride for the Telugu society. “Justice Reddy belongs to Andhra Pradesh and has deep Telugu roots. This is an opportunity for Telugu people to send one of their own to a high constitutional post. I believe parties in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will rise above politics and vote for the country and for Telugu pride,” Kejriwal said.
The emphasis on Telugu identity has created a tricky situation for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. His party, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is currently an ally of the BJP-led NDA, which has fielded its own candidate. Supporting Justice Reddy could strain ties with the BJP; opposing him may be seen as ignoring Telugu pride — something Naidu can ill afford politically.
Expressing gratitude to Kejriwal, Justice Reddy said, “The Vice-President’s office is not political; it requires independence and impartiality. That is why I agreed to contest. I am not tied to any party and will work as a concerned citizen.” He appealed to MPs from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to “rise above political affiliations” and support his candidature.
The meeting was attended by senior Opposition leaders, including Congress MPs Pramod Tiwari and Dr Sayed Naseer Hussain, and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee.
As the election nears, the Telugu pride factor could become a defining element in the contest, testing Chandrababu Naidu’s balancing act between regional sentiment and coalition loyalty.
