Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Upholds Disqualification of Telangana Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Danam Nagender
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal
On September 24, 2026, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court dismissed the special leave petition filed by Danam Nagender, upholding the Telangana High Court’s order that disqualified him from the Telangana Legislative Assembly under the anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule. The Court found no ground to interfere with the High Court’s interpretation of the law.
Background & Context
Nagender was elected from the Khairatabad constituency on a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) ticket in the 2023 state elections, having previously won the seat in 2018. On March 14, 2024, he defected to the Indian National Congress and filed his nomination for the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Secunderabad, losing to BJP candidate G Kishan Reddy.
The Telangana Assembly Speaker dismissed petitions seeking his disqualification on March 11. BRS filed a complaint with the Speaker on March 18 and moved the High Court on April 10. The High Court, after hearing petitions from BJP Legislature Party leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy, ordered disqualification on September 18, declaring the seat vacant and setting the effective date as April 23, 2024—the day Nagender filed his Lok Sabha nomination. Nagender sought Supreme Court relief on September 19, but the apex court rejected his plea.
Data & Statistics
Official Statements & Responses
BRS senior leader T. Harish Rao welcomed the judgment, calling it a rebuke of the Congress party’s “double standards.” Working president K.T. Rama Rao described the decision as a “Supreme slap” to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, urging defected MLAs to resign and seek fresh mandates.
BJP chief Maheshwar Reddy hailed the ruling as a validation of constitutional norms, asserting that the Supreme Court’s dismissal confirmed that “defection… is unconstitutional.”
Nagender, after the verdict, said he respected the judgment and was prepared to contest the forthcoming by-poll when the Election Commission announced the schedule, noting he had anticipated the consequences of contesting the Lok Sabha election.
Criticism & Opposition
BRS representatives criticised the Congress for using “Ghar Wapsi” rhetoric while facilitating defections, arguing that granting a Lok Sabha ticket to an incumbent MLA from another party contradicted its public stance on constitutional morality.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All cited sources consistently report the Supreme Court’s dismissal, the High Court’s disqualification date, and the procedural history. No substantive discrepancies were identified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Can ghar wapasi save you from disqualification?” — Justice Bagchi
- “He may be brought back to the party, not the House” — Justice Bagchi
- “The Supreme Court upholding the High Court judgment disqualifying MLA Danam Nagender is a victory for the Constitution.” — Maheshwar Reddy, BJP Telangana chief
- “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: By-Election in Khairatabad
With the Khairatabad seat declared vacant, the Election Commission must issue a notification for a by-poll. All major parties—BRS, Congress, and BJP—are expected to field candidates, and the timing will be set by the commission’s schedule.