India, Sept. 8 -- Justice (retired) B Sudershan Reddy, the Opposition's candidate for the September 9 vice-presidential election, has called for defending the soul of the democratic republic as "democratic space is shrinking" and citizens' rights are "under strain".

He said his candidature is not at all a personal aspiration but a collective effort to protect and strengthen India's democratic fabric. He asked lawmakers to rise above party lines and said that with his election, the Rajya Sabha can become a true temple of democracy.

In a video message two days before the election, Justice (retired) Reddy sought support for the "values that define us as a sovereign democratic republic".

"In this election, there is no party whip, and the b...