The opposition INDIA bloc has nominated former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy as their candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election, scheduled for September 9, 2025. This sets up a contest against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, C. P. Radhakrishnan. The Vice Presidential post became vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation due to health concerns.
B. Sudershan Reddy was born on July 8, 1946. He enrolled as an Advocate in Hyderabad with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on December 27, 1971. Reddy began his legal career focusing on civil and constitutional matters, practicing under K. Pratap Reddy, a Senior Advocate of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Reddy's career includes time as a Government Pleader in the High Court during 1988-90 and as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government for six months in 1990. He also served as Legal Advisor and Standing Counsel for Osmania University. In 1993, he was elected President of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates Association.
He was appointed as a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 2, 1995. Later, on December 5, 2005, he was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court. His career culminated with his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on January 12, 2007, where he served until his retirement on July 8, 2011. After retiring from the Supreme Court, Reddy assumed the role of the first Lokayukta of Goa in March 2013 but resigned from the position in October 2013 citing personal reasons.
The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The election will be held via secret ballot. To be eligible for the office, a candidate must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years of age, qualified for election to the Rajya Sabha, and must not hold any office of profit.
The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the election, with polling to be held on September 9, 2025. The last date for filing nominations is August 21, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is August 25.
C. P. Radhakrishnan, the NDA candidate, is currently serving as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra. He assumed this post on July 31, 2024, and previously served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024. He also held additional charge as the Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry between March and July 2024. Radhakrishnan has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore twice and has served as the Tamil Nadu BJP State President.
