The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed Congress MLAs Danam Nagender and Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy to file their counters in petitions challenging the Speaker’s refusal to disqualify defected legislators.
The Telangana High Court has granted additional time to ten BRS MLAs accused of defecting to the Congress party, despite objections from petitioners who argued that the Speaker dismissed disqualification pleas without considering key evidence.
Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Telangana after Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissed petitions against five MLAs accused of defecting. Rao alleged that the ruling party had trampled constitutional provisions on anti-defection, exposing Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Save the Constitution’ campaign as hollow.
Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar rejected BRS petitions seeking disqualification of MLAs who defected to the Congress, citing lack of evidence. The BRS said it would challenge the decision in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the matter on Thursday.
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.
BRS leader Dasoju Sravan condemned the Congress Party for its perceived double standards regarding legislative defections, particularly highlighting Rahul Gandhi's silence on issues in Telangana. He alleged that the Revanth Reddy government is misusing the Speaker’s Office to delay action against defected MLAs, referencing a Supreme Court warning on inaction.
The MLA defection case involving 10 BRS legislators who joined the ruling Congress has entered its final phase, with Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar resuming hearings under the Anti-Defection Act. While eight MLAs have filed replies, Danam Nagender and Kadiam Srihari sought more time.
Telangana Assembly Speaker began in-camera hearings on BRS disqualification petitions against 10 MLAs who defected to Congress. Proceedings, held under strict security, saw counsels cross-examining petitioners. BRS leaders demanded immediate disqualification, citing evidence of open defection
