The thinking in the ruling party camp seems to be that taking action against at least two legislators will give the Speaker more time to decide on the disqualification or otherwise of eight others.
Published Nov 18, 2025 | 7:39 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 18, 2025 | 7:39 AM
The BRS submitted evidence to the Speaker which show the MLAs elected on BRS tickets working for the Congress.
Synopsis: At least two of the 10 BRS legislators who switched loyalties to the ruling Congress in Telangana are likely to be disqualified or asked to resign. The development comes after the Supreme Court asked the Telangana Assembly Speaker to decide on the pending petitions for the disqualification of the turncoat MLAs or face contempt of court.
Sources said at least two of the 10 BRS legislators who switched loyalties to the ruling Congress in Telangana are likely to be disqualified or asked to resign. The development comes in light of the Supreme Court’s fury on Monday, 17 November, when it asked the Telangana Assembly Speaker to decide on the pending petitions for the disqualification of the turncoat MLAs or face contempt of court.
The two MLAs who will have to seek a fresh election are: Danam Nagender, representing Khaiaratabad constituency in Hyderabad city and former minister Kadiyam Srihari from Station Ghanpur in the Warangal district.
The thinking in the ruling party camp seems to be that taking action against at least two legislators will give the Speaker more time to decide on the disqualification or otherwise of eight others. On Monday, the Supreme Court turned down the Speaker’s plea seeking more time to examine the issue and set a one-week deadline.
Apart from the two, the eight legislators who switched sides are: Kale Yadayya (Chevella), Prakash Goud (Rajendranagar), Gudem Mahipal Reddy, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (Banswada), Tellam Venkata Rao (Bhadrachalam), Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy (Gadwal), Arikepudi Gandhi (Serilingampally), and Sanjay Kumar (Jagtial).
The ruling party, out of overenthusiasm or willfully, officially acknowledged by way of social media posts whenever BRS MLAs have individually chosen to get photographed with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders, announcing their intent to join the Congress.
However, in the case of Nagender and Srihari, the evidence goes beyond this. Having been elected as MLA from BRS, Nagender contested the subsequent Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate. Srihari also officially campaigned for the Congress in the Lok Sabha and was even named as one of the coordinators for the graduate MLC elections held around the same time.
BRS submitted evidence against the 10 legislators to the Speaker, who had called eight of them to present their version. Only Srihari and Nagender have not appeared before the Speaker so far.
Fresh from the victory in the Jubilee Hills by-election, Revanth Reddy and other top leaders of the Congress seem to believe that the momentum is in their favour and, therefore, there is no risk in going for another round of by-elections.
In terms of public perception, it would also be better to have the two MLAs resign rather than face disqualification, which appears to be the thought process.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
