Who is B. Sudershan Reddy? Ex-Supreme Court judge named Opposition’s VP candidate

The Opposition’s INDIA bloc on Tuesday announced former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the upcoming vice-presidential election, setting up a contest against the ruling National Democratic Alliance’s nominee, Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who presided over a meeting of the alliance’s parliamentary floor leaders, said Justice Reddy’s nomination was approved unanimously. "All INDIA bloc parties have decided to have a common candidate, the decision has been taken unanimously. I am happy that all opposition parties have agreed to one name. It is a big achievement for democracy," Kharge said.

Early life and education

Born in July 1946 in Telangana, Justice Reddy comes from an agricultural family. He studied in Hyderabad and later earned his law degree from Osmania University, enrolling as an advocate on December 27, 1971, with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh.

Early legal career

Justice Reddy began his professional journey in Hyderabad, working under senior advocates and taking on cases in the City Civil Courts and the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. He served as Government Pleader in the High Court from 1988 to 1990. In 1990, he worked briefly as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government. He also acted as Legal Adviser and Standing Counsel for Osmania University, combining litigation work with advisory roles.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi appeals for unanimous election of Radhakrishnan as vice president

Judicial career

Reddy’s judicial career officially began with his appointment as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 2, 1995. After a decade on the High Court, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on December 5, 2005.

On January 12, 2007, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India, where he served until his retirement on July 8, 2011. In total, he has over 16 years of experience in the country’s constitutional courts, handling a wide range of legal and constitutional matters.

Post-retirement roles

After retiring from the Supreme Court, Justice Reddy continued to contribute to public service and the legal field. In March 2013, he became the first Lokayukta of Goa, a position he held for seven months before stepping down due to personal reasons. He remains active in the legal community as a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre in Hyderabad, helping to oversee dispute resolution and arbitration initiatives.

Also Read: Vice-President polls: BJP-led NDA picks Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan

Looking ahead to the election

The vice-presidential election is scheduled for September 9, with nominations closing on August 21. Justice Reddy’s nomination brings a long record of judicial experience into the race, which will see him face off against Radhakrishnan, whose career has been shaped by political leadership and administrative experience in Maharashtra.