Disqualification petition: After Kadiyam meets Speaker, focus shifts to Danam

Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari has sought more time to respond to the Speaker’s disqualification notice, while attention now turns to Khairthabad MLA Danam Nagender. The Congress leader, formerly elected on a BRS ticket, is under scrutiny for violating the anti-defection law after contesting from Secunderabad in the Parliament elections.

Hyderabad: After Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari called on the Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Friday and sought more time to respond to the disqualification petition, focus now shifts to Khairthabad MLA Danam Nagender, who is exploring different options, including resignation.

This is after the Speaker served notices to both the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) turncoat MLAs – Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender to appear for a hearing before November 23.

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Of late, sidelining the State leadership, Danam Nagender has been maintaining a direct contact with AICC. He met AICC Chief Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi and held a closed-door meeting. Speculation is rife that he might have insisted on an assurance from the AICC about cabinet berth for resigning as the Khairthabad MLA, party sources said.

Among the 10 BRS turncoat MLAs, Danam Nagender, is facing serious threat under the anti-defection law. Representing the BRS, he contested from Khairthabad constituency during the assembly elections in 2023.

However, during the parliament elections, he contested from Secunderabad constituency representing the Congress. This could be a major reason for the Speaker to initiate action against him.

This apart, sources in Gandhi Bhavan opined that Danam Nagender may opt to resign as MLA. In case the Speaker decides to act under the anti-defection law, he will not be able to contest any election for the next six years, they pointed out.

During the meeting with high command, Danam Nagender is believed to have discussed all these issues. Unlike Kadiyam Srihari, he is yet to respond to the Speaker’s notices and his silence is giving enough ‘indications’.