New Delhi: The disqualification controversy in Telangana politics has intensified as the Supreme Court is set to hear petitions filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders seeking disqualification of 10 MLAs who defected to the Congress. A Bench led by the Chief Justice of India will examine multiple petitions, including a contempt plea filed by BRS against the Telangana Assembly Speaker for allegedly failing to comply with the Court’s earlier directions. The Speaker’s office recently approached the Supreme Court seeking additional time to complete hearings on the disqualification cases. BRS leaders, including working president K.T. Rama Rao and MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy, have accused the Speaker of not adhering to the Court’s July 31 order, which directed that action be taken within three months on MLA defection complaints.
The controversy stems from the defection of 10 BRS MLAs — including Danam Nagender, Kadiyam Srihari, Tellam Venkat Rao, Arekapudi Gandhi, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Sanjay Kumar, Prakash Goud, Kale Yadaiah, Gudem Mahipal Reddy and Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy — to the ruling Congress soon after the 2023 Assembly elections. BRS filed a disqualification petition against them in the Supreme Court on January 16, alleging that the Speaker failed to act despite High Court and Supreme Court directions.
Although the Speaker has reportedly held hearings for eight of the MLAs, the Assembly Secretary has requested more time from the Supreme Court, citing ongoing proceedings. The BRS legal counsel is expected to argue that no substantial action has been taken even after the three-month deadline ordered by the Court on July 31, adding to concerns that further delay could undermine anti-defection law enforcement in the state.