Chief Minister M.K. Stalin congratulated retired Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy on being named INDIA bloc’s Vice-Presidential candidate. “I wholeheartedly congratulate Thiru B. Sudershan Reddy on being chosen as the vice-presidential candidate of the Opposition,” he said.

Mr. Reddy was a jurist of integrity and independence, and a champion of civil liberties and social justice, and upheld constitutional values throughout his career, Mr. Stalin said. “At a time when our institutions are under strain, his candidature strengthens our collective resolve to safeguard democracy and protect the spirit of the Constitution,” he added.

Contending that all the independent institutions meant to safeguard democracy had been turned into the “subsidiary bodies of the ruling party”, and that the Constitution was in danger, he said, “In such a situation, the responsibility before us is to support only the one who believes in India’s fundamental ideals of secularism, federalism, social justice, and unity in diversity.”

Mr. Stalin alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre was “continuously inflicting injustice on Tamil Nadu” — refusing to accept the State’s rightful demands such as exemption from NEET, recognition of Keeladi’s antiquity, fairness in fund devolution, and release of educational funds. “Through Governors, it has been running a parallel government and blocking the functioning of State governments, while engaging in efforts to weaken institutions of higher education.”

The DMK was consistently and vociferously raising its voice in Parliament against the unconstitutional denial of the State rights, the centralisation of power, the rising tide of hate propaganda, and the relentless imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit — “all of which dig a grave for the Constitution and attempt to bury it”, Mr. Stalin said.

The DMK president said “secular-spirited people of Tamil Nadu” had, in successive elections, overwhelmingly voted for the MPs and MLAs of the DMK-led alliance to defend the rights of the State and safeguard the Constitution. “This decision stands as both a reaffirmation of the people’s faith and a mark of respect for their mandate and sentiment.”

“As someone who can create space for constructive debates in Parliament, conduct the House by giving the rightful place to the voice of the Opposition, and as a democrat who has faith in the Constitution and in the principles of federalism, pluralism, social justice, and linguistic rights — Mr. Sudershan Reddy stands. As the opposite of anti-federalism, authoritarianism, and the trend of spreading hatred — Mr. Sudershan Reddy stands,” he said.