Telangana Speaker dismisses disqualification petitions against Danam, Kadiyam

Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissed disqualification petitions against MLAs Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender, citing lack of evidence. The decision closes all anti-defection cases filed by BRS against defecting legislators who joined the ruling Congress

Hyderabad: Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Wednesday dismissed the disqualification petitions filed against Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari and Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender, bringing an end to what will turn out to be a controversial anti-defection dispute that had created political tension in the State.

He cited lack of evidence as the reason for rejecting the petitions.

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The current decision of the Speaker is bound to create a political storm in Telangana.

The petitions were filed by the BRS against 10 MLAs who were elected on its ticket but later joined the ruling Congress.

The Speaker had earlier disposed of petitions against eight MLAs, citing lack of evidence. The verdict on Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari was pending after hearings were completed in the Speaker’s chamber last week.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court directed the Speaker to take a final call within a four weeks deadline which will expire next week.

Arguments from both the petitioners and the respondents were heard before the verdict was reserved earlier this month.

The BRS had accused the Speaker of delaying action on the disqualification pleas for nearly two-and-a-half years. With the dismissal of the remaining petitions, all cases filed against the alleged turncoat MLAs have now been closed.