A significant twist has emerged in the Telangana MLAs’ defection saga, as Assembly Speaker Gadda Maheshwar Rao issued notices to Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagendar on Wednesday. Nagendar, one of the three pending MLAs under scrutiny, has been called to appear for questioning on the 30th of this month.
This development follows a complaint filed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party with the Speaker’s office, alleging that ten elected MLAs have defected. However, the Speaker’s office has faced criticism for not taking prompt action, prompting the party to seek intervention from the Supreme Court. In response, the court has set deadlines and issued warnings to the Speaker, urging him to conduct the necessary inquiries.
The Speaker has already questioned seven MLAs regarding their alleged party switches, but the inquiries resulted in dismissals of petitions, citing a lack of evidence to substantiate the claims. Among those cleared are Arikapudi Gandhi, Goodem Mahipal Reddy, Bandla Krishna Mohan, Prakash Goud, Tellam Venkataravu, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and Kale Yadayya.
Now, the remaining three MLAs—Dr. Sanjay, Danam Nagendar, and Kadiyam Srihari—are set to face questioning. The recent issuance of notices to Danam Nagendar has garnered particular attention, especially in light of a petition filed against him by fellow BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy, seeking his disqualification.
Both Nagendar and Reddy have been separately instructed to appear for their hearings on the 30th. The Supreme Court had previously issued contempt notices to the Speaker on the 19th of this month, expressing dissatisfaction over the delays in addressing the disqualification petitions against the MLAs. The court warned of stringent measures if prompt action is not taken.
The issuance of notices to Nagendar is particularly intriguing as he continues to serve as a BRS MLA while also preparing to contest as a candidate for the Congress party in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
This ongoing saga highlights the political tensions within Telangana’s assembly, as party loyalties are tested and the implications of defection loom large over the upcoming electoral landscape. As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the proceedings scheduled for the end of the month, which could determine the political fates of several key figures in the region.
