Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Upholds Disqualification of Telangana Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Danam Nagender
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The Court’s Decision
On September 24 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed Danam Nagender’s petition against the Telangana High Court’s order that disqualified him as the Khairatabad MLA. The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, upheld the High Court’s interpretation of the anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule. The High Court had declared Nagender’s seat vacant with retrospective effect from April 23 2024, the date he filed his Lok Sabha nomination as a Congress candidate while still a BRS-elected legislator.
Background & Context
- Defection timeline – Nagender, a two-time winner of the Khairatabad seat (2018, 2023) on a BRS ticket, defected to Congress on March 14 2024. The BRS lodged a complaint with the Assembly Speaker on March 18 2024 and approached the High Court on April 10 2024.
- Speaker’s ruling – On March 11 2026, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissed petitions seeking Nagender’s disqualification.
- High Court reversal – The High Court set aside the Speaker’s order on September 18 2026, applying Paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule and declaring the seat vacant, triggering a by-election.
Data & Statistics
- Disqualification effective date: April 23 2024.
- Electoral history: Nagender won Khairatabad in 2018 and 2023 as a BRS candidate; he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Secunderabad on a Congress ticket and lost to BJP’s G Kishan Reddy.
- Petitioners: BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy.
Official Statements & Responses
- BJP: Party president N. and Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar called for a clean-sweep of defections.
- BRS: Senior leader T Harish Rao criticised Congress for “double standards” and suggested Rahul Gandhi resign and seek a fresh mandate. Working President K.T. Rama Rao demanded that the state apply the High Court’s principle to all remaining defectors.
- Danam Nagender: The MLA said he respects the Supreme Court’s ruling and is ready to contest the forthcoming by-poll once the Election Commission announces the schedule.
Criticism & Opposition
- BJP’s accusation: Maheshwar Reddy alleged that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy encouraged defections and exploited the Speaker’s office for “unconstitutional gain.”
- BRS’s demand: The party urged the Congress-led government to resign the defected MLAs and face the electorate, framing the disqualification as a test of democratic legitimacy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Chief Minister encouraged defections himself. Although attempts were made to exploit the Speaker’s office for unconstitutional gain, it has become evident that no one can escape the reach of justice,” — Maheshwar Reddy
- “We welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court. We will face the elections. Facing elections is not new to me. Definitely, I will fight and will come out with flying colours,” — Danam Nagender
- “I respect the Supreme Court judgment. I am ready for the election whenever the Election Commission announces the schedule. I had expected the consequences before contesting the Lok Sabha election,” — Danam Nagender
What’s Next
The High Court’s declaration that the Khairatabad seat is vacant obliges the Election Commission to schedule a by-election. Congress, BRS and BJP are expected to field candidates, and the poll timing will be announced in the coming weeks. The result will influence the balance of power in the Telangana Legislative Assembly ahead of the next state elections.