Hyderabad, Dec 5 (NationPress) Former minister Danam Nagender, one of the 10 BRS MLAs facing potential disqualification for allegedly switching allegiances to the ruling Congress party, announced on Friday that he would resign if Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructs him to do so.

While he mentioned that the resignation proposal has not yet been discussed, he is willing to comply with the Chief Minister’s wishes.

Speaking to reporters, he highlighted that the disqualification issue is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court, where he intends to present his case.

Nagender expressed his confidence in elections, stating, “Winning elections runs in my blood. I have contested 11 times so far,” referring to his constituency of Khairatabad in Hyderabad.

The former minister emphasized that Telangana will progress further if Revanth Reddy remains as Chief Minister for another decade.

Recently, Nagender requested additional time to respond to a disqualification notice issued by Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.

The Speaker has already wrapped up hearings regarding the disqualification of eight MLAs who allegedly defected from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to the ruling Congress.

On November 20, the Speaker sent new notices to Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari, asking for responses by November 23, to which both sought extensions. This marked the third instance of notices being sent due to prior non-responses.

BRS has initiated disqualification petitions against 10 MLAs who were elected on a BRS ticket in the 2023 elections but later shifted their support to the Congress in 2024.

The Speaker has finished hearings on the petitions regarding the disqualification of eight MLAs: Kale Yadaiah, Krishna Mohan Reddy, G. Mahipal Reddy, T. Prakash Goud, Sanjay Kumar, Arekapudi Gandhi, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and Tellam Venkat Rao. After considering arguments from both parties, the Speaker has reserved his decision.

BRS contends that these MLAs openly joined the Congress party and even occupied seats in the Treasury Benches during Assembly sessions. However, the MLAs argue that they merely met with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to request funds for development projects within their constituencies.

The BRS also pointed out that Nagender not only joined Congress but also contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Secunderabad on a Congress ticket. Additionally, it was alleged that Kadiyam Srihari campaigned for his daughter, Kadiyam Kaviya, who was a Congress candidate for the Warangal constituency in the Lok Sabha elections.

On November 17, the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to the Telangana Speaker for failing to comply with its directive to resolve the disqualification petitions against the 10 MLAs.

On July 31, a bench led by the then Chief Justice B.R. Gavai instructed the Assembly Speaker to decide on the disqualification issues within three months.

The bench characterized the failure to follow earlier orders as a serious contempt and issued notices to the Speaker and others concerning the petitions filed by BRS leaders. The bench also addressed a separate plea from the Speaker's office requesting an additional eight weeks to reach a decision.

This matter has been scheduled for further hearings in four weeks.