Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender Denies Defection, Says He Is Still a BRS Member!

Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender has categorically stated that he continues to be a member of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and has not resigned from the party. He clarified that no suspension or expulsion orders have been issued against him by the party. Terming the disqualification petitions filed by BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and BJP MLA Eleti Maheshwar Reddy as baseless, Danam said the allegations were made purely on assumptions and media reports, without any factual or legal backing. Both MLAs had approached the Speaker seeking his disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law, alleging that he won the 2023 Assembly elections on a BRS ticket and later defected to the Congress. The Speaker is scheduled to hear both petitions on the 30th of this month.

In the affidavit submitted to Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Danam Nagender explained that his meeting with Congress leaders on March 15, 2024, was a personal and courtesy interaction, and cannot be construed as joining another party. He stated that the petitions lacked essential facts, valid documents and proper verification, relying only on media clippings. He argued that the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution applies strictly to actions within the legislature such as voting or official conduct, and cannot be extended to personal activities outside the House. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has fixed May 31 as the deadline for the Speaker to decide on all pending disqualification petitions related to BRS MLAs who allegedly joined the Congress. With most cases already disposed of and a few still under consideration, the hearing on Danam Nagender’s case has gained significant political importance in Telangana.