Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday criticized Opposition’s Vice Presidential candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy for meeting RJD chief and fodder scam convict Lalu Prasad Yadav, questioning Reddy’s stance on morality.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said, “We are confident of winning the elections. Opposition’s Vice Presidential candidate, B. Sudershan Reddy, who is a former judge, met RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, convicted in the fodder scam, and he is talking about morality.”
The meeting had already triggered a political row, with BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad condemning it. He remarked, “Retired Judge of the Supreme Court Sudershan Reddy is the opposition’s candidate for the post of Vice-President. When a judge stands in elections and makes statements of this nature, questions will naturally be raised. What kind of Supreme Court judge meets someone convicted of a scam? And Lalu Prasad is not even a voter or MP, so why talk about praising the soul of the nation? This is hypocrisy.”
Responding to the criticism, Sudershan Reddy defended his meeting, stating, “They keep saying whatever comes to their mind. Is Lalu an ordinary man? It is not right to say such things about anyone.”
Meanwhile, Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Suresh Gopi expressed confidence in NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan’s victory. Chouhan said, “NDA’s victory is certain. CP Radhakrishnan will be the new Vice President.” Manjhi added, “NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan will surely win the Vice-President elections.”
Suresh Gopi described the election as one focused on “fairness, truthfulness, and effectiveness,” praising Radhakrishnan as one of the best workers in his ideological system.
The polling for the 15th Vice Presidential election began at 10 am on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being the first to cast his vote. The contest is between NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan and opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy, with vote counting scheduled for the evening.