Chandrababu Naidu gave many twists and turns in politics: INDIA bloc's Veep pick

Opposition vice-presidential candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy on Saturday described TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu as “one of the tallest leaders in the country,” saying he trusted the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to take an “appropriate decision in the national interest.”

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party is a key NDA ally, has already pledged support to the ruling bloc’s candidate Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, R. Reddy, however, suggested that the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has “given many twists and turns in politics”.

“Chandrababu Naidu is a visionary leader, one of the tallest leaders in the country and he knows what to do. I’m sure he’ll take an appropriate decision in the national interest. He did it previously on many occasions. He gave many twists and turns on the horizon of Indian political scenes,” Reddy said in an interview to India Today TV.

Reddy also revealed that he was in touch with several parties not aligned with either the NDA or the INDIA bloc. “The talks are continuing with them, some of them are directly talking to me and offering support to me in their own way. The reason is simple—I don’t belong to any political party,” he said.

The former Supreme Court judge argued that the Opposition camp, which nominated him, represented the majority of Indians. “The opposition as such in this country represents about 66–67% of the population. That means I am a candidate sponsored by the majority of the population of this country,” he said.

Reddy added that while the NDA appeared numerically stronger, the margin in the electoral college was “very thin,” and shifting alliances could alter the outcome.

'NOT A POLITICAL POST'

Explaining why he entered the contest, Sudershan Reddy stressed that the Vice-President’s office was a constitutional role, not a political one.

“My journey with the Constitution began in 1971 when I entered the bar and took oath in its name. Later, as a judge and then Chief Justice, I once again took oath to uphold it. The present office for which I hope to be elected is part of the same journey. I don’t think the post of Vice President is a political position. It is a high constitutional office,” he told India Today TV.

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