Goshamahal by-poll on the cards

Telangana is set to witness yet another assembly by-election, this time from the high-profile Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad. The political development was triggered after BJP firebrand leader and sitting MLA T. Raja Singh tendered his resignation to the party, which has been formally accepted by BJP national president J.P. Nadda on Friday. This move will pave the way for his disqualification from the Telangana Legislative Assembly, setting the stage for the third by-poll since the Congress government came to power in December 2023.

This upcoming by-election follows the earlier ones in Secunderabad Cantonment, which Congress candidate Sriganesh N. won, and the Jubilee Hills seat (election is due), which fell vacant after the demise of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath.

Raja Singh, who was elected on the BJP ticket in 2023, submitted his resignation to the party on June 30 . The party formally accepted the resignation and communicated the same to the MLA on Friday (July 11). According to constitutional and legislative procedures, once an MLA resigns from the party on whose symbol he or she was elected—and the resignation is accepted—the legislator is automatically considered to have vacated their Assembly seat. This is not under the usual anti-defection proceedings but falls under a direct constitutional interpretation of a MLA voluntarily relinquishing party membership and thereby losing his membership of the house as well.

While the formalities remain to be completed, the process is well underway. The BJP legislature party in the state is expected to soon write to the Speaker of the Telangana Assembly, enclosing a copy of the resignation and its acceptance. Following this, the Speaker will seek Raja Singh’s version before issuing a formal notification declaring his disqualification, making the Goshamahal seat vacant.

Once formalised, the BJP’s strength in the Telangana Assembly will drop from eight to seven. The current BJP legislators in the Assembly are Aleti Maheshwar Reddy (Floor Leader)-Nirmal, Palvai Harish Babu (Sirpur), Payal Shanker (Adilabad), Rama Rao Pawar (Mudhole) , Paidi Rakesh Reddy (Armur), K. Venkata Ramana Reddy (Kamareddy) and D. Satyanarayana Gupta (Nizamabad Urban)

How Raja Singh’s case is different from others

Raja Singh’s resignation—and its direct consequence of disqualification—is a distinct case in the Telangana Assembly when compared to the ongoing saga of BRS MLAs defecting to the ruling Congress.

Since the Congress took office, nearly 10 BRS MLAs have shifted allegiances to the ruling party. Prominent among them are Danam Nagender, Kadiyam Srihari, Arekapudi Gandhi, Prakash Goud, Tellam Venkat Rao, and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy. Despite actively associating with Congress activities—and even contesting parliament election on a Congress ticket in the case of Danam Nagender—none of these MLAs have formally resigned from the BRS.

The BRS, in response, wrote to the Speaker seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. The party also approached the court to expedite action, but no final decision has been made, and the said MLAs continue to function as members of the House.

According to a former Assembly Secretary, the crucial difference lies in the procedure. “In Raja Singh’s case, he voluntarily resigned from the party that got him elected. This makes the disqualification automatic under constitutional provisions. But in the case of the BRS defectors, they haven’t resigned, which complicates the matter. As long as there is no resignation or clear acknowledgment of defection, it becomes a legal battle under the anti-defection law,” he explained.

Some of these defected MLAs have even stated publicly that they are still with the BRS, while simultaneously operating within the political ecosystem of the Congress government.

Bypolls likely alongside Bihar Elections

With two Telangana by-elections already in the queue and that too in the state capital Hyderabad—Jubilee Hills and Goshamahal—it is highly likely that the Election Commission of India may schedule them alongside the Bihar Assembly elections, which are due in October-November 2025. This would streamline the administrative and logistical aspects of conducting polls at the same time.

As the state gears up for another heated electoral contest, all eyes will now be on the strategies adopted by the BJP, Congress, BRS and AIMIM in Jubilee Hills and Goshamahal, the two constituencies known for its high-decibel campaigns and polarised electorate.

Committed to BJP, says Raja Singh

Goshamahal MLA T. Raja Singh has clarified his position amid growing media speculation about his political future. In a video message to his supporters and the public on Friday evening, Raja Singh stated that he has been a committed member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the past 11 years and has been elected thrice from the Goshamahal Assembly constituency due to the blessings of the people and the tireless efforts of party karyakartas.

He expressed deep gratitude to BJP workers and the people of Goshamahal for their continuous support, which he described as the driving force behind his political journey.

Refuting ongoing media reports suggesting his possible shift to other parties like BRS or Congress, Raja Singh dismissed these as baseless rumours. He reassured his supporters that he remains committed to the ideology he has always stood for and urged them not to panic or worry.

Raja Singh said he would soon consult his supporters and grassroots cadre before making any decision on his future political course. Until then, he appealed for calm and unity among BJP workers, stressing on his dedication to protect the interests of Hindus and the nation.