The INDIA bloc’s decision to nominate former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the upcoming Vice President elections has triggered sharp criticism. The ruling side has slammed the Congress and its allies for fielding a man whose judicial record, they say, weakened India’s fight against Naxalism and denied justice to victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
The contest will pit Sudershan Reddy against the NDA’s nominee, Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, in what Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has described as an “ideological battle.” Kharge hailed Reddy as a “distinguished and progressive jurist,” but critics say the choice exposes the Opposition’s double standards.
The Salwa Judum Judgment: A Blow to Anti-Naxal Efforts
The most stinging criticism of Reddy comes from his role in the 2011 Supreme Court judgment striking down Salwa Judum, a state-backed militia movement in Chhattisgarh aimed at combating Maoist insurgents.
The bench, which included Reddy, declared the deployment of tribal youth as Special Police Officers (SPOs) to fight Maoists illegal. It ordered the immediate disbanding of Salwa Judum and other similar forces, along with the recall of all firearms issued to SPOs.
“The State of Chhattisgarh shall forthwith make every effort to recall all firearms issued to any of the SPOs… The word firearm as used shall include any and all forms of guns, rifles, launchers et cetera, of whatever calibre,” the judgment stated.
Critics argue this ruling crippled on-ground efforts against Maoists at a time when the insurgency was at its peak. Instead of strengthening the hands of security forces and protecting vulnerable tribal populations, the judgment according to detractors tied the state’s hands and gave Maoists the upper edge.
Today, when the Modi government has vowed to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 2026, the Opposition’s decision to field a man who had curtailed a crucial counter-insurgency effort is being portrayed as deeply ironic and even anti-national.
Role in Blocking Justice for Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims
Sudershan Reddy’s record also includes being part of the five-judge bench that refused to reopen the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy case in 2011. The disaster, one of the world’s worst industrial accidents, killed thousands and left generations suffering.
By declining to revisit the case, the bench effectively shut the door on attempts to secure higher compensation and accountability from Union Carbide and its executives. This move has long been criticized by victims’ groups, activists, and political parties seeking justice.
Critics now highlight the hypocrisy of the Congress, which has for decades claimed to champion the cause of the poor and marginalized, but has chosen as its vice-presidential candidate a man who blocked justice for the victims of one of India’s greatest tragedies.
Congress’s Double Standards Exposed
The decision to field Sudershan Reddy has also reignited accusations of hypocrisy within the Congress. When former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2020, Congress had branded the move as a disgrace to the judiciary. Yet in 2025, the party is championing a retired judge for a constitutional post.
Adding to the irony, when Reddy was appointed the first Lokayukta of Goa in 2013, both the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP staged black flag protests against him, dismissing him as a “yes man” of then BJP Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Today, the same political groups are projecting him as a “progressive jurist” and “champion of justice.”
Critics argue this blatant double standard reflects the INDIA bloc’s opportunism—praising or attacking individuals not on principles but on political convenience.
Wrong Man for the Wrong Job
The INDIA bloc’s nomination of B Sudershan Reddy is being seen not as an “ideological battle,” but as an ideological betrayal. His record of striking down Salwa Judum weakened India’s fight against Maoist insurgency, while his refusal to reopen the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case denied justice to thousands of victims.
At a time when India is making steady progress in eradicating Naxalism and restoring stability in insurgency-hit regions, the Opposition has chosen a man remembered for decisions that set back those very efforts. Far from representing “justice” or “progressivism,” the pick exposes Congress and its allies as out of touch with national priorities and willing to compromise on core issues for short-term political gains.
INDIA Bloc’s Self-Goal
By selecting Sudershan Reddy, the Opposition has handed the ruling alliance a potent weapon to question its credibility, patriotism, and commitment to justice. In a battle that should have been about vision for India’s future, the INDIA bloc may have scored a self-goal by nominating a man whose past rulings weakened the nation’s fight against both terrorism and corporate crime.
