SC dismisses Danam Nagender's plea

metro india news  I hyderabad

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender’s plea challenging the Telangana High Court order disqualifying him as an MLA following his defection from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to the ruling Congress. The apex court said there was no ground to interfere with the High Court’s order.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was hearing the plea. During the hearing, Justice Bagchi orally remarked, “Your case is ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram, phir aaya Ram’?”—a phrase commonly used to describe politicians who frequently switch parties. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Nagender.

The Telangana High Court had earlier set aside the Assembly Speaker’s order rejecting petitions seeking   Nagender’s disqualification. Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar had dismissed the petitions on March 11 this year.

The High Court subsequently declared  Nagender disqualified as a member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly with effect from April 23, 2024.   Nagender had contested the 2024 Secunderabad Lok Sabha election on a Congress ticket while serving as a BRS MLA.

The High Court order came on petitions filed by BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA P. Kaushik Reddy.

Nagender, however, expressed confidence that he would retain the seat in the proposed by-election. He said his accessibility and continued public service would earn him the support of voters.

Asked whether his party switch would affect his prospects, he said people viewed him more as a family member than an MLA. He also claimed that people were happy with the Congress government for implementing its election promises.