Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Telangana High Court Defers Danam Nagender Disqualification Verdict Again
The Telangana High Court is deciding whether Danam Nagender should lose his Assembly seat.
Nagender originally won the seat as a BRS candidate.
He later joined and campaigned for Congress.
BRS leaders and a BJP legislator said this meant he had given up his BRS membership.
The Assembly Speaker disagreed and said there was not enough proof to disqualify him.
Nagender’s lawyer said meetings, photographs and wearing a Congress scarf were not enough evidence.
The court had planned to announce its decision, but delayed it again.
The verdict is now expected on Friday, September 18.
The Telangana High Court postponed its verdict on Danam Nagender’s disqualification plea until Friday, September 18.
The case challenges Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar’s decision not to disqualify the Khairatabad MLA.
Nagender won his Assembly seat on a BRS ticket before joining and campaigning for Congress.
BRS and BJP legislators argued that his conduct showed he had voluntarily left BRS.
Nagender’s counsel said newspaper reports, photographs and Congress-related appearances did not prove voluntary resignation from BRS.
- Who
- Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender, BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy, BJP Legislature Party Leader Maheshwar Reddy, Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar and the Telangana High Court are involved.
- What
- The High Court deferred its verdict on petitions seeking Danam Nagender’s disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law.
- When
- The verdict was postponed to Friday, September 18; the court had previously reserved judgment on February 21.
- Where
- The matter is before the Telangana High Court and concerns the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
- Why
- The petitions allege that Nagender voluntarily gave up his BRS membership after joining and campaigning for Congress, while his counsel and the Speaker dispute that claim.
Petitioners’ position
Nagender and Speaker’s position
Whether Nagender defected
Petitioners’ position
The petitioners argued that Nagender voluntarily relinquished his BRS membership by joining and campaigning for Congress after winning on a BRS ticket.
Nagender and Speaker’s position
Nagender’s counsel argued that the evidence did not prove voluntary resignation, while the Speaker ruled that Nagender had not legally defected.
Strength of evidence
Petitioners’ position
The petitioners urged the court to consider Nagender’s conduct, including contesting an election on a Congress ticket six months later.
Nagender and Speaker’s position
Nagender’s counsel said the case relied mainly on newspaper reports, photographs, meetings with Congress leaders and a Congress scarf, which he said were insufficient proof.
- Affected legislator
- Danam Nagender, Khairatabad MLA
- Original party
- BRS
- Later political association
- Congress
- Challengers
- BJP Legislature Party Leader Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy
- Speaker’s decision
- The Speaker found insufficient evidence to disqualify Nagender under the Anti-Defection Law.
- Previous judgment date
- February 21
- Next scheduled verdict date
- Friday, September 18