Overview

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah again accused B. Sudarshan Reddy of “supporting Naxalism,” claiming the 2011 Salwa Judum judgment prolonged insurgency and undermined tribal self‑defence.
• Retired judges and legal commentators pushed back, saying motives should not be attributed to judges and noting the court did not bar the state from fighting Maoists.
• Villagers from Sukma and Bastar wrote an open letter urging MPs to reject Reddy’s candidacy, arguing the verdict weakened counter‑insurgency efforts.
• Reddy said the judgment “speaks for itself,” declined a point‑by‑point dispute with the Home Minister, urged a conscience vote, and pledged to run the House impartially if elected.
• Campaigning has intensified ahead of the September 9 vote, with Reddy meeting Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders in Lucknow and preparing letters to all MPs, as the NDA fields C. P. Radhakrishnan and nominations have closed.