Hyderabad: The ongoing investigation into the party defection case involving Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender has taken a significant step forward, with Speaker Gadda Maheshwara Reddy conducting a hearing on the matter. The case pivots on two affidavits submitted by BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and BJP leader Maheshwara Reddy, seeking disqualification for Nagender.
During the hearing, which lasted approximately two hours, Speaker Reddy questioned Nagender about the allegations brought forth by Kaushik Reddy. As the inquiry progresses, legal representatives for Nagender are preparing to cross-examine both Kaushik Reddy and Maheshwara Reddy. Notably, Maheshwara Reddy has sent his lawyers to represent him at the hearing, which is seen as a crucial part of the legal proceedings.
In a strategic move, Nagender requested an extension until February 20 to personally attend the cross-examination, citing the ongoing municipal elections. Speaker Reddy granted this request, allowing Nagender additional time to prepare his defense. The evidence affidavit presented by Nagender includes documents from his candidacy as a Congress MP for the upcoming 2024 elections, which he believes are pivotal to his case.
Speaker Reddy has scheduled the next hearing for February 18, where further deliberations will take place regarding Maheshwara Reddy’s petition. Padi Kaushik Reddy, who arrived at the assembly for the cross-examination, expressed his confidence in the proceedings. He stated, “We have brought forward notices for the Speaker’s consideration. We believe Nagender will be suspended. He contested as an MP from Congress after winning as an MLA from BRS. What stronger evidence could there be?”
Kaushik Reddy indicated that he would submit all relevant documents, including details about the votes Nagender received, to the Speaker during the next session. This case has garnered significant attention in political circles, as it touches on the contentious issue of party loyalty and the implications of defection in the current political landscape of Telangana.
The outcome of this inquiry could have far-reaching effects not only for Nagender but also for the BRS party’s standing in the state. As the investigation unfolds, all eyes will be on the February 18 hearing, which promises to be a crucial moment in the continuing saga of political maneuvering in Telangana.
