Quest to safeguard constitutional values in vice-presidential election: Former Supreme Court Justice B Sudarshan Reddy

Stating that he doesn’t belong to any political party, INDIA bloc’s vice-presidential candidate B Sudarshan Reddy, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, on Thursday said the he chose to contest the election as his five decades in the judicial field taught him the importance of protecting constitutional values.Reddy, who was in Patna, expressed hope of getting support from everyone and ultimately winning the elections. He said doesn’t want to join any political party in the future.“I am winning the elections. Where is the doubt about it,” he asked, describing the vice-presidential election as a significant one. “This is something where the party whip is not applied. Also, the voting in such an election is by secret ballot,” Reddy said, announcing his intention to seek support from all parties.Describing himself as the candidate of the alliance, which represents 63% of the country’s total population, Reddy said when the offer to contest the elections came, he could not refuse. “How could I refuse it,” he asked, claiming to have the support of all opposition parties — even those who are not part of the INDIA bloc.Holding a copy of the Constitution, Reddy said the prevailing situation in the country establishes the fact that it is in “danger”. He recalled an incident when Congress MP Rahul Gandhi stared at his pocket containing a copy of the Constitution. “I told him that I have been carrying a copy of the Constitution for the past 52 years ... Yah kitab aapne nahin diya hai (you have not given this book),” Reddy recounted with a smile. It is worth mentioning here that, of late, Rahul too is often seen displaying a copy of the Constitution at his rallies.