Opposition V-P nominee to MPs: Vote in favour of country, not party

“I am ready to accept whatever decision you take. The country belongs to all. It is your responsibility more than mine to keep this country safe. This is because you are Members of Parliament. This vote is not just for the V-P, but the vote is for the soul of the country. Let us all strengthen our republic and create a legacy which can evoke feelings of pride for generations to come.”

In his message to MPs, Reddy said he stands before them with humility and a deep sense of responsibility as a candidate for the office of the Vice-President of the great republic.

He said his candidature is not at all a personal aspiration but a collective effort to protect and strengthen India’s democratic fabric. “India’s democracy was built on the supreme sacrifices of our freedom fighters and nurtured for decades by their vision,” he said. Today, as that democratic space shrinks and citizens’ rights come under strain, “it is our duty to defend the soul of our democratic republic”, Reddy said.

Preparations in Opposition camp, led by the Congress, were in full swing on Sunday. A meeting of top leaders of Congress, including Deputy Leader in LS Gaurav Gogoi, LS whip Manickam Tagore, RS member Jairam Ramesh and others, was held at party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence.

Opposition MPs will be briefed on Monday morning on the procedure to vote in the V-P election.

Later, a “mock poll” will be conducted in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan around 2.30 pm, said sources. Kharge was to host a dinner for the Opposition MPs in the evening but it has been cancelled in view of the flood situation in the country, the sources said. With PTI inputs