LUCKNOW, Aug. 26 -- INDIA bloc candidate for the post of vice-president, B Sudarshan Reddy, who visited Lucknow on Tuesday, appealed to MPs from Uttar Pradesh to back his candidature.

"I have come here to solicit the support of MPs from Uttar Pradesh. I believe the office of the honourable vice-president is not a political post but a high constitutional office. I appeal to members of all political parties to consider my candidature on its own merits," Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, said while addressing a press conference at the Samajwadi Party office alongside party president Akhilesh Yadav. He added that constitutional bodies needed greater attention to bring them back on track.

Praising the Samajwadi Party, Reddy said he was in...