"We are not against an individual": Congress MP Mallu Ravi on VP elections

New Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): Congress MP Mallu Ravi on Tuesday said that the opposition parties were not against Maharashtra Governor and NDA Vice Presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan as an individual, since it is a battle of ideology.
"We are not against CP Radhakrishnan, there are two ideals seen in India, one is secular ideology - Congress and UPA; non-secular ideology is NDA. That is why we are not against an individual; this is the battle of ideology," Ravi told ANI.
He appealed to all the regional parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSRCP, to support the candidature of Sudershan Reddy.
"We just wanted to start meeting individually and collectively. Through you, we are requesting all the TDP, YSRCP and even from Punjab and Bihar to support the candidature of B Sudershan Reddy," Ravi said.
"We, the MPs of Telangana, are extremely happy that B Sudershan Reddy has been announced for the Vice President post by the INDIA bloc. There is every possibility that he may be elected as the Vice President of India, though apparently the number is short. In the Constitution Club elections, the NDA wanted to elect one person, and the person who was not to be elected has been elected with the support of Congress," he added.
Reddy on Tuesday expressed gratitude towards the INDIA bloc for nominating him as the joint Opposition candidate for the Vice Presidential election and appealed to all Members of Parliament to support his candidature.
"Thank you for projecting me as a candidate on behalf of the INDIA Alliance. But for (sic) you, it would not have been possible...As a candidate, I would humbly request and appeal to all the Parliamentarians to support my candidature," Reddy told reporters here.
"I am very, very happy. Thank you," he added.
When asked about him and his competition being from southern India, Reddy said that "south, north, east, west" doesn't matter since both - him and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan - were Indian nationals.
"It is the Parliamentarians who elect the Vice President. Political parties may sponsor the candidates. There is only one citizenship in this country. CP Radhakrishnan and I are Indian nationals. Whether it is South, North, East, or West, nothing matters," Reddy said.
The retired judge, who arrived in Delhi earlier in the day, was welcomed by the INDIA bloc MPs.
The INDIA bloc announced retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its Vice Presidential candidate earlier in the day, terming the election an "ideological fight" against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The opposition leaders said their choice of candidate is meant to defend constitutional values.
The announcement also received backing from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Earlier in the day, Kharge said Reddy would file his nomination on August 21.
Reddy, who served as Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court before being elevated to the Supreme Court in 2007, retired in July 2011. He will contest against the NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan.
The Vice-Presidential election is scheduled for September 9, with counting on the same day. (ANI)