In a significant ruling, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Gadda Prasad Kumar, dismissed disqualification petitions against MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari, who were accused of switching allegiance from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to the Congress party. This decision comes amidst a backdrop of growing unrest within the BRS, following allegations that ten of its MLAs joined Congress after winning their seats in the recent elections.
The petitions against Nagender and Srihari were filed by BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and BJP legislative leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy, respectively. The Speaker concluded his review of the cases and announced his decision on Wednesday morning. Previously, the Speaker had already dismissed petitions against eight other MLAs, indicating a trend of upholding the incumbency of party members despite the accusations.
Following the Speaker’s ruling, the BRS expressed dissatisfaction, feeling that the outcome would allow Nagender and Srihari to evade disqualification. K.T. Rama Rao, the working president of BRS, stated that their party would determine its next steps once they received a copy of the Speaker’s ruling. The political landscape in the state has shifted considerably, with the BRS winning only 39 seats in the recent assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, allowing the Congress to form the government.
Amid the turmoil, allegations have surfaced that ten BRS MLAs, including notable names such as T. Prakash Goud and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, have defected to Congress, raising questions about party loyalty and integrity. The controversy intensified as Danam Nagender ran unsuccessfully for a parliamentary seat from the Secunderabad constituency as a Congress candidate in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Moreover, Kadiyam Srihari’s daughter, Kavya, received a BRS ticket for the Warangal MP position but switched to Congress at the last minute, winning the election. The BRS has claimed that Kadiyam actively campaigned for his daughter, reinforcing suspicions of collusion and betrayal within party ranks.
In response to these developments, the BRS filed disqualification petitions against the ten MLAs under the provisions of the Anti-Defection Act, seeking to uphold the integrity of the party. These petitions were submitted to the Speaker in July 2024. However, BRS officials have accused the Speaker of delaying decisions on these petitions, prompting the party to seek recourse in the High Court in December 2024.
Despite the High Court’s directive for timely resolutions, the Speaker’s failure to comply led to further discontent, culminating in the Supreme Court issuing a contempt notice against him in November 2025. The ongoing legal battles saw the Supreme Court instruct the Speaker to resolve all petitions within three months, leading to a gradual dismissal of several cases.
As of January 16, 2026, the Speaker informed the Supreme Court that seven of the petitions had been dismissed, while he reiterated that the cases against Kadiyam and Danam would not lead to disqualification. The unfolding drama highlights the fragility of political alliances in the region and raises questions about the future dynamics within the BRS and its relationship with Congress.
