The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) decided to approach the Supreme Court regarding the disqualification of MLAs who have defected. This move follows discussions with legal experts, prompted by the recent defection of Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender to the Congress, which occurred three months ago.
Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) resolved to petition the Supreme Court for the disqualification of its MLAs who defected to the ruling Congress, contravening the public mandate from the recent Assembly elections.
This decision made by the party leadership after consulting with legal experts, prompted by the three-month period since Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender switched allegiance to the Congress.
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A previous Supreme Court judgment mandates that the Assembly Speaker must rule on disqualification petitions within three months. According to Paragraphs 30 and 33 of this ruling, the High Court required to take swift action on such matters.
A hearing concerning the disqualification of Danam Nagender set to take place in the High Court on June 27. If the High Court does not rule in favor of disqualifying Nagender, the BRS will promptly escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. The party also intends to contest the defections of other MLAs who have switched allegiances to the ruling Congress in the Supreme Court.
In response to BRS MLAs leaving the party to join the Congress, BRS working president KT Rama Rao stated on Monday that such defections would not hinder the party. He emphasized that the power of the people surpasses the power of those in authority.
He remarked on ‘X’,
“We have experienced multiple MLA defections between 2004 and 2006 when Congress was in power. Telangana reacted robustly by intensifying the people’s movement, ultimately compelling Congress to concede. History will repeat itself,”
Former ministers L Ramana and Rajesham Goud, along with BRSV (student wing) president Gellu Srinivas Yadav, criticized the Congress for its perceived double standards regarding the defection of elected representatives.
Ramana questioned,
“Is this Rahul Gandhi’s Congress or Revanth Reddy’s Congress? While Rahul Gandhi is advocating for the immediate disqualification of MLAs upon defection, Revanth Reddy is encouraging them.”
He also labelled Jagitial MLA Sanjay Kumar’s decision as unethical.
In the elections held last year, BRS secured 39 out of the total 119 Assembly seats, while Congress came to power with 64 seats. The Congress’ count later increased to 65 after winning the Secunderabad Cantonment bypoll, following the demise of BRS MLA G Lasya Nanditha in a road accident earlier this year.
Since the Assembly elections held in December last year, five out of 39 BRS MLAs have left the party. Danam Nagender, Kadiam Srihari, and Tellam Venkat Rao joined the Congress before the Lok Sabha polls, while Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Jagitial MLA Sanjay Kumar defected to the party during the last week.
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