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The BJP criticised the opposition VP candidate for meeting Lalu Prasad Yadav, calling it “terrible optics” and “a shocking statement on probity in public life”.
INDIA bloc VP candidate Sudarshan Reddy and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. (Photo: X)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday criticised the opposition INDIA bloc’s vice presidential candidate, Justice Sudarshan B Reddy, for meeting with former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, calling it a “shocking statement on probity in public life”.
Lalu Yadav shared images of his meeting with Reddy at his residence in Patna. “The joint candidate for the Vice President post, Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy, visited the residence in Patna to inquire about well-being,” he said.
Reacting to the meeting, BJP IT Department in-charge Amit Malviya said, “B Sudarshan Reddy, former Supreme Court judge and INDI Alliance’s joint candidate, recently met fodder scam convict Lalu Prasad, who isn’t even a Member of Parliament and has no vote in the VP electoral college.”
“This isn’t just terrible optics, it’s a shocking statement on probity in public life by someone aspiring for a high constitutional office. What’s even more telling is the silence of the “usual suspects” — retired judges and self-proclaimed custodians of constitutional morality. Their hypocrisy stands exposed,” he added.
B. Sudarshan Reddy, former Supreme Court judge and INDI Alliance’s joint candidate, recently met fodder scam convict Lalu Prasad, who isn’t even a Member of Parliament and has no vote in the VP electoral college.This isn’t just terrible optics, it’s a shocking statement on… pic.twitter.com/IC2CMmhtoN
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 8, 2025
This comes a day before the vice-presidential elections on September 9. In the vice-presidential election, NDA pick CP Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Maharashtra, is pitted against opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge.
The elections are being held to replace Jagdeep Dhankhar, who abruptly resigned on July 21, citing health reasons. Multiple Opposition leaders have repeatedly raised questions over the resignation of Dhankhar, claiming that the former VP might have been forced to resign due to differences between leaders.
The BJP organised a ‘Sansad Karyalaya’ on Sunday, and it will also be held today as a practice session for its MPs on Monday to guide them on the voting process in the Parliament.
On the other hand, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge will host a dinner for the INDIA bloc MPs on Monday evening at the Parliament annexe. The meeting is to reinforce the opposition’s unity and support for their VP candidate.
In a video message earlier, Justice Reddy appealed to MPs not to let party loyalty guide their choice and to ensure that the Rajya Sabha stands as a true temple of democracy by voting in his favour.
(with agency inputs)
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
September 08, 2025, 12:37 IST
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