New Delhi: Even as Opposition vice presidential candidate justice B Sudershan Reddy lost to NDA's CP Radhakrishnan, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wished him for his victory and also said that this was more than an election as it was a battle of ideology, reaffirming that governments with authoritarian tendencies must be checked to protect the Constitution and democracy
In a post on X, Kharge said, "Best wishes to CP Radhakrishnan on securing victory in the Vice Presidential election. We extend our sincere gratitude to B. Sudershan Reddy garu, the united Opposition’s joint candidate, for his spirited and principled fight. This was more than an election; it was a battle of ideology, reaffirming that governments with authoritarian tendencies must be checked to protect our Constitution and Democracy."
Kharge said that he hopes that the new Vice President-elect will uphold the highest ethos of Parliamentary traditions, ensuring equal space and dignity for the Opposition, and not succumb to pressures of the ruling dispensation.
"The Vice President, the second highest Constitutional office in the order of precedence, must be revitalised to reflect independence, fairness, and strength in safeguarding Democratic values," the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said.
He also reminded that "we must also remember why this election was necessitated".
"Jagdeep Dhankar resigned suddenly on the very day he chaired the opening of the Monsoon Session—an exit still unexplained and unceremonious. As we move forward, transparency, accountability, and respect for Constitutional positions must guide our institutions in letter and spirit," he stated.
Reddy was fielded by joint opposition in the vice presidential elections and he got 300 votes as compared to 452 fetched by Radhakrishnan.
Even Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in a post on X said, "The Opposition stood united for the Vice Presidential election.
Highlighting the performance of Opposition candidate, Ramesh, who is also Congress communication incharge said, "Its performance has undeniably been most respectable. Its joint candidate Justice (retd) B. Sudershan Reddy secured 40 per cent of the vote. In 2022, the Opposition had received 26 per cent of the vote in the Vice Presidential Elections."
"The BJP's arithmetical victory is really both a moral and political defeat. The ideological battle continues undiminished," he added.
Earlier in the day, all the top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge, CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, LoP LS Rahul Gandhi and other voted in the vice presidential elections that took place between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Election for the vice presidential post was necessitated after Jagdeep Dhankhar had resigned surprisingly on July 21 citing medical grounds.
