Former SC Judge B Sudershan Reddy CM , N Chandrababu Naidu Home Minister Amit Shah
NEW DELHI: The Vice President election has unexpectedly triggered ripples within the NDA, with Home Minister Amit Shah’s sharp remarks against Justice (Retd.) B. Sudershan Reddy stirring unease in Telugu political circles. Shah reiterated his long-held accusation that Justice Reddy’s landmark judgment on the Salwa Judum movement had indirectly given a “new lease of life” to Naxalism in Chhattisgarh.
While clarifying his position, Justice Reddy stressed that “fighting violence by creating another violent group could only results in both sides unleashing terror against each other.”
Although the comments were framed in the context of national security, they have acquired a regional dimension in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Senior political observers note striking parallels between the present situation and the early years of N.T. Rama Rao’s political rise in the 1980s.
At that time, NTR capitalized on Telugu pride and resentment against the perceived humiliation of Andhra leaders by the Congress high command, particularly the incident when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was accused of publicly disrespecting then Andhra Chief Minister T. Anjaiah.
That episode became a rallying point for NTR, who built his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) around the slogan of self-respect and dignity for Telugu-speaking people. Today, some analysts suggest that Amit Shah’s remarks against Justice Reddy—a respected jurist of Telugu origin—risk being interpreted through the same lens of wounded regional sentiment.
Within political circles in Andhra Pradesh, there is already speculation that TDP MPs, who form a crucial component of the NDA bloc, may find themselves under pressure from public opinion to back Justice Reddy’s candidacy in the Vice Presidential election.
The argument is not merely about party loyalty, but about defending the integrity and reputation of Telugu figures in national life.
A senior political observer in Hyderabad commented, “Amit Shah’s words may have unintended consequences. Any attack, even indirect, on a Telugu leader’s personal integrity can quickly be transformed into a broader narrative of disrespect towards the Telugu people. History has shown that such sentiments can ignite political shifts.”
As voting day approaches, what initially appeared to be a routine election for the Vice President is fast emerging as a test of regional pride and coalition discipline. Whether the TDP stands firmly with the NDA or chooses to register a symbolic protest could significantly influence not only the election result but also the evolving political equations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
[Writer is a Senior Journalist and Political Commentator]
