While former Chief Minister and YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy has reaffirmed his party’s support to BJP-led NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan, INDIA bloc’s candidate and retired Supreme Court Judge Justice B Sudarshan Reddy spoke over phone with him seeking his support.
Soon after the BJP decided Radhakrishnan as NDA’s candidate in the election, to be held on September 9th, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on Jaganmohan Reddy, seeking his support. Spontaneously, the former Chief Minister assured his support. This has led to a peculiar political scenario in Andhra Pradesh, where both the ruling coalition and also the opposition extended support to the NDA candidate. As a result, INDIA bloc’s candidate is unlikely to get even a single vote.
This had happened earlier also during President and Vice President elections. During his telephone talk, Justice Sudarshan Reddy requested Jaganmohan Reddy’s support in the Vice Presidential election. Responding to the call, YS Jagan recalled that even before the INDIA bloc had announced its candidate, the NDA had approached him seeking support for their nominee. Indicating his inability, he said he had already assured the NDA of his backing.
Moreover, Jaganmohan Reddy added that he holds Justice Sudarshan Reddy in great personal respect and said his services to the nation through the judiciary are invaluable. He praised him for his significant contribution towards protecting the Constitution and safeguarding the spirit of democracy.
However, he made it clear that since he had already committed to the NDA candidate, he would not be able to support the INDIA bloc candidate in this election and requested that it not be misunderstood.
On the otherhand, once again Jaganmohan Reddy issued a press statement clarifying his wholehearted support to NDA’s candidate in the Vice President election. Referring to a telephone call received from Justice Sudarshan Reddy, he said he has conveyed his prior assurance to the NDA candidate. He expressed regret over not being able to extend support and urged that his stance not be misconstrued as lack of respect.
