Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on December 17 dismissed disqualification petitions filed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) against five of its former MLAs accused of defecting to the ruling Congress party.
The decision provides relief to the legislators – Tellam Venkat Rao (Bhadrachalam), Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy (Gadwal), T. Prakash Goud (Rajendranagar), Gudem Mahipal Reddy (Patancheru), and Arekapudi Gandhi (Serilingampally), who were elected on BRS tickets in the 2023 Assembly polls but later aligned publicly with the Congress.
Speaker cites insufficient evidence
Delivering the verdict in an open session, the Speaker ruled that the anti-defection provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution do not apply, as the petitioners failed to produce conclusive proof of formal membership in the Congress. He emphasized that the MLAs technically remain affiliated with the BRS, despite their public statements and interactions with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
The petitions were part of a broader set of 10 cases filed by BRS leaders, alleging voluntary abandonment of party membership following the Congress government’s formation in late 2023. Proceedings on the remaining cases, including those involving Danam Nagender (Khairatabad), Kadiyam Srihari (Station Ghanpur), and others, are ongoing, with some MLAs yet to submit final responses.
The Speaker’s ruling adhered to deadlines imposed by the Supreme Court, which had previously directed the Speaker to resolve the matters promptly and warned of contempt for delays.
BRS vows legal challenge
The BRS swiftly condemned the decision as a ‘mockery’ and ‘murder of democracy,’ accusing the Speaker of bias in favor of the ruling party.
Party’s Working president KT Rama Rao labeled it a ‘cruel joke,’ while party leaders announced plans to challenge the order in the High Court and potentially escalate to the Supreme Court.
BRS spokespersons argued that public declarations, social media announcements by the Congress welcoming the MLAs, and their participation in government events constituted clear evidence of defection.
Congress and MLAs hail verdict
The affected MLAs and Congress leaders welcomed the outcome as ‘justice delivered.’ Gudem Mahipal Reddy, one of the beneficiaries, expressed satisfaction, asserting that the lack of formal defection upheld constitutional norms.
The latest development bolsters the Congress-led government’s majority in the 119-member Assembly, where it already enjoys a comfortable position following the 2023 elections and subsequent alignments.