Speaker dismisses petitions against Danam, Kadiyam

In a significant political development, the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, Gaddam Prasad Kumar, has dismissed the disqualification petitions filed against MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari on Wednesday. The decision comes after months of political debate and legal scrutiny surrounding allegations that several legislators had defected from the opposition to the ruling party.

In his ruling, the Speaker stated that the petitions filed against the two MLAs did not satisfy the necessary requirements for disqualification under the provisions governing the functioning of the House. As a result, both legislators will continue as members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly.

This decision follows earlier rulings by the Speaker in which disqualification petitions against eight other MLAs were also dismissed. Those legislators included Tellam Venkata Rao, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Sanjay Kumar, Kale Yadaiah, Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy, T. Prakash Goud, Gudem Mahipal Reddy and Arekapudi Gandhi. With the dismissal of the petitions against Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari, all ten MLAs who faced disqualification proceedings have now been cleared.

Opposition parties, particularly the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, had filed the petitions citing provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India. They alleged that the MLAs had effectively defected by extending support to the ruling Congress and occupying seats on the Treasury benches in the Assembly.

However, the legislators denied the allegations, stating that they had merely met Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to seek funds for development works in their constituencies and had not formally joined the Congress party.

Welcoming the Speaker’s decision, Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari said the verdict upheld democratic principles and allowed them to concentrate on development activities in their constituencies. They also maintained that the opposition’s attempts to challenge their membership had now been legally addressed.

The issue had also reached the Supreme Court of India, which on February 6 granted the Speaker a final opportunity to decide on the pending petitions concerning the MLAs. The apex court is scheduled to hear the matter again on March 12, keeping the political and legal spotlight firmly on the developments in Telangana.

Opposition slams Speaker’s verdict

Strong political reactions have emerged after Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissed disqualification petitions against MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy strongly criticised the ruling, alleging that it undermines democratic values. “Granting a clean chit to defectors like Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari amounts to disrespecting the people’s mandate. Both Congress and BRS have followed the same approach on defections,” he said. Kishan Reddy also questioned why clear evidence of leaders switching political allegiance was not treated as defection.

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao also condemned the decision, saying it was against the spirit of democracy. “A person elected as an MLA from one party joining another party within six months and contesting the Lok Sabha election from that party was witnessed by the entire state. Despite such clear circumstances, calling it not a defection is surprising,” he said. Ramchander Rao added that even campaigning for another party and contesting on its ticket was being ignored, which he termed an insult to democracy and the people’s mandate.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar described the decision as “shocking and unfortunate,” stating that the verdict encourages defections. He said the BJP would approach the High Court and expressed confidence in the judiciary.

Former minister and BRS MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy also criticised the ruling, calling it “a dark day in the history of the legislative system” and alleging that giving a clean chit despite clear evidence of political alignment with another party undermines democratic values. Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar hit back at BRS, saying defections in Telangana had begun during the BRS regime and that leaders were leaving the party due to internal conflicts.

‘Undemocratic and Shocking’

KTR slams Speaker’s verdict on Defection petitions 

BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday strongly criticised the decision of Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar to dismiss disqualification petitions against defecting MLAs, describing the verdict as “undemocratic and shocking.”

In a statement, the BRS leader alleged that the decision was taken under pressure from senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and accused the Congress leadership of orchestrating the entire episode. According to him, the Speaker had little independence in the matter and the ruling party was directly managing political defections in the state.

KTR alleged that the verdict represented a direct assault on democracy and the Constitution of India. “The main perpetrator and the criminal mind behind this decision is Rahul Gandhi. Without his approval, the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly would never have dared to take such a shocking decision,” he said.

Questioning the Congress leader’s moral authority to comment on defections, KTR said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party had “no moral right” to lecture others on democratic values. He accused the Congress of double standards, claiming that while Rahul Gandhi publicly projects himself as a defender of the Constitution, his party was simultaneously enabling defections and protecting defecting legislators.

The BRS leader also raised questions about how an MLA elected on a BRS B Form could contest a Parliamentary election on a Congress B Form without resigning from the Assembly, yet still avoid disqualification. “Despite such clear evidence, the Speaker has refused to act. This is nothing short of political manipulation,” he said.

He noted that Election Commission records clearly show the B Forms used by candidates in different elections and argued that the facts were already in the public domain. He also criticised Rahul Gandhi for speaking about automatic disqualification of defectors during his speeches in Telangana while allegedly allowing the Congress government to protect them.