Telangana HC orders disqualification of MLA Danam

Metro India News | Hyderabad : Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender suffered a setback in the Telangana High Court, which set aside the Speaker’s decision in his case and ordered his disqualification as a legislator. Separate petitions seeking Nagender’s disqualification were filed by BJP Legislature Party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy. The petitioners contended that Nagender was elected to the Assembly on a BRS ticket but subsequently joined the Congress. They also pointed out that he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket.

The petitioners argued that Nagender had violated the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and sought his disqualification under the anti-defection law. They submitted that they had placed substantial evidence of his alleged defection before the Speaker, but the Speaker’s Tribunal, without duly considering the material, passed an order on March 11 stating that there was insufficient evidence to disqualify him.

After hearing the petitions challenging the Speaker’s decision, a Chief Justice-led bench directed that the Speaker and the Election Commission be informed that the Khairatabad Assembly seat had fallen vacant.