Why hearing on disqualification of turncoat BRS MLAs has reached the final stage in the Telangana Assembly
The Telangana Assembly is witnessing the final stage of hearings on disqualification petitions against BRS MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari, who defected to the Congress under ‘Operation Akarsh’.
Hyderabad: The controversy over the defection of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs to the Congress has entered the final stage, with Speaker G Prasad Kumar set to conduct the hearing on the disqualification petition filed against Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender on Saturday.
Of the 10 MLAs facing defection charges, the Speaker has already given a clean chit to eight legislators citing lack of evidence. The hearing on the petition against Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari has been completed, but the Speaker is yet to announce his decision. There are expectations that the ruling may be announced after the hearing of the Khairatabad MLA is completed.
The defection episode triggered a political storm in Telangana and attracted national attention after the Supreme Court issued specific directions to the Speaker to act on the disqualification petitions.
When and how did the defections begin?
In March 2024, the ruling Congress launched its ‘Operation Akarsh’, with Danam Nagender becoming the first BRS legislator to join the Congress. He, along with BRS MP from Chevella Ranjith Reddy, joined the party in the presence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Telangana Congress in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan.
Which other BRS MLAs joined the Congress and when?
After Danam Nagender’s switch, nine more BRS legislators joined the Congress. They include Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari (March 31, 2024), Bhadrachalam MLA Tellam Venkat Rao (April 7, 2024), Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (June 21, 2024), Jagtial MLA Dr Sanjay (June 23, 2024), Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah (June 28, 2024), Jogulamba Gadwal MLA Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy (July 6, 2024), Rajendranagar MLA T Prakash Goud (July 12, 2024), Patancheru MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy (July 15, 2024) and Serilingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi (July 13, 2024).
How did the defections change party strength in the Assembly?
Following the defection of 10 MLAs, the BRS strength in the Assembly dropped from 39 to 29, while the Congress tally increased from 64 to 74.
However, after the Secunderabad Cantonment and Jubilee Hills by-elections, the BRS strength declined further to 27. Despite this, the Telangana Assembly website continues to reflect the BRS strength as 37 since no formal action has been taken against the turncoat MLAs.
What steps did the BRS take against the defections?
Soon after Danam Nagender joined the Congress, a BRS delegation of MLAs submitted a petition to the Speaker on March 19, 2024 seeking his disqualification.
Despite repeated attempts by the BRS leadership to meet the Speaker and lodge complaints against other defecting MLAs, appointments were not granted. Subsequently, in June 2024, BRS MLA G Jagadish Reddy sent complaints through email and speed post against turncoat MLAs Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Dr M Sanjay Kumar.
Later, in September 2024, the party submitted affidavits and supporting evidence to the Speaker.
The BRS also approached the High Court the same month. The court directed the Assembly Secretary to place the disqualification pleas before the Speaker and instructed that the matter be decided within a reasonable time.
Why did the case reach the Supreme Court?
In February 2025, the BRS moved the Supreme Court challenging the delay by the Speaker in deciding the disqualification petitions.
On July 31, 2025, the Supreme Court directed the Speaker to decide the petitions against the 10 MLAs within three months.
However, after the deadline passed without a decision, the court expressed displeasure. On November 17, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to the Speaker. It was for him whether he wanted to decide the matter or face contempt of court. “This is gross contempt of court,” a bench headed by CJI BR Gavai had observed.
Timeline of key developments
October 2025: Speaker resumes hearings after returning from a foreign tour.
December 17, 2025: Speaker G Prasad Kumar dismisses petitions against MLAs Tellam Venkat Rao, Arekapudi Gandhi, Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy, T Prakash Goud and Gudem Mahipal Reddy citing lack of evidence.
January 16, 2026: Petitions against Kale Yadaiah and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy are dismissed.
February 5, 2026: The Speaker dismisses the petition against M Sanjay Kumar, giving a clean chit to eight of the 10 MLAs.
February 6, 2026: The Supreme Court grants three more weeks to the Speaker to decide on the cases of Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender.
Why are Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender under focus?
Danam Nagender had contested the Secunderabad Lok Sabha elections in May 2024 on a Congress ticket but lost to BJP’s G Kishan Reddy.
Similarly, Kadiyam Srihari had openly stated at public programmes that he had joined the Congress and attended meetings at party offices.
These factors make it difficult for the reason of ‘lack of evidence’ to be cited again to give them a clean chit, and make it interesting as to what approach the Speaker will be taking in this case.
Case reaches final stage
March 7, 2026: The hearing on the disqualification petitions against Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender reached the final stage. The Speaker is expected to announce his decision after the hearing.
