VP election: Reddy says Radhakrishnan 'not speaking', calls for 'healthy convo' - will there be a debate?

NEW DELHI: Opposition’s vice presidential candidate B Sudershan Reddy , on Monday, called out his rival, ruling NDA nominee C P Radhakrishnan , for “not speaking,” and said that a healthy conversation would have taken place, had he spoken.

At a press conference on Monday, attended by Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy and senior Congress leaders, the former Supreme Court judge clarified that his intention is not to speak lowly about the rival, rather, was looking for a healthy conversation with him.

"Every day I am speaking to the media. I made the comment with the view that a healthy conversation would have taken place if he (Radhakrishnan) also spoke," he said, quoted by PTI.

When asked about the most alarming Constitutional challenge facing India, Reddy pointed to what he described as a “deficiency” in the functioning of the Election Commission of India .

"If it continues in the same direction, the democracy in this country would be in peril...That's what I believe," he said.

Reddy also noted that his candidacy has drawn support from outside the INDIA bloc, mentioning backing from the Aam Aadmi Party.

Reflecting on his journey, he said the vice presidential contest was part of his lifelong association with the Constitution. He described the upcoming VP election poll as one of the most fair, decent elections ever fought in the recent history of India.

"Ours is not a majoritarian state. Ours is a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious society. The Constitution does not give power to anyone. The Constitution's job is to limit your power," he added.