Speaker reserves verdict in MLA disqualification case

Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar reserved his verdict till March 7 on disqualification petitions against Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari and Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender. The petitions were filed by BRS under the Anti-Defection Law after the MLAs joined Congress

Hyderabad: Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar reserved his verdict on the disqualification petitions filed against Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari and Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender till March 7. He completed the hearings in both cases on Thursday.

The proceedings were held in the Speaker’s chamber where legal representatives of the petitioner from BRS and the MLAs presented their arguments. The proceedings in the petitions against Kadiyam Srihari were heard first, followed by Danam Nagender. After hearing both parties, the Speaker reserved his decision, triggering political speculation over the possible outcome.

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The main opposition BRS filed the petitions against 10 turncoat MLAs who joined the ruling Congress under the provisions of the Anti-Defection Law. The Speaker had earlier disposed of similar complaints against eight other MLAs, effectively giving them relief.

Political critics continue to debate whether action will be taken in the cases of Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender, against whom there is clear evidence of defection. They pointed out that Srihari campaigned for his daughter and Congress candidate Kadiyam Kavya in Warangal Lok Sabha constituency, while Nagender himself contested on the Congress ticket in the Secunderabad Lok Sabha elections.