Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday, 24 September described the Supreme Court verdict upholding the Telangana High Court's decision to disqualify Danam Nagender as a 'supreme slap' to Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The Supreme Court dismissed Nagender's petition challenging his disqualification under the anti-defection law, finding no ground to interfere with the High Court's ruling.

KTR's Reaction: 'One Wicket Down, More to Follow'

Posting on X, Rama Rao alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy believed they could 'steal a mandate through defections and hide behind the Speaker.' He said the verdict exposed attempts to protect defections through the Speaker's office. Turning his attention to the Khairatabad constituency — where a by-election is now proposed — Rama Rao warned, 'The people of Khairatabad will soon give their verdict on three years of betrayal, broken promises and misrule.' He concluded with a direct personal attack: 'Mark my words, MLA Chor @RahulGandhi,' suggesting further disqualifications may follow with the remark, 'One wicket down, more to follow soon.'

Harish Rao Challenges Congress on 'Samvidhan Bachao'

BRS Deputy Leader in the Assembly T. Harish Rao also welcomed the ruling, calling it a slap in the face to Congress's claimed commitment to 'saving the Constitution.' He pointed directly at Rahul Gandhi's recurring 'Samvidhan Bachao' campaign, arguing it now faces a genuine test. 'If Rahul Gandhi genuinely believes in the Constitution, he must demand that every other MLA who defected to the Congress resign immediately and seek a fresh mandate,' Harish Rao posted. He questioned whether 'Samvidhan Bachao' was a real constitutional commitment or merely a political slogan, adding that silence on Telangana defections would expose the gap between Gandhi's rhetoric and Congress's practice in the state.

Background: The Danam Nagender Disqualification

Former Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender was disqualified under the Tenth Schedule — the anti-defection law — after he switched political allegiance to the Congress. The Telangana High Court upheld the disqualification, and the Supreme Court on Thursday declined to intervene, effectively sealing his exit from the Assembly. The case has drawn national attention given its link to the broader wave of BRS legislators who crossed over to Congress following the party's victory in the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections.

Political Implications for Telangana

The verdict adds fresh pressure on the Congress government in Telangana, which has faced persistent BRS allegations of engineering defections to consolidate legislative strength. Notably, Nagender's case is not isolated — multiple other former BRS legislators who joined Congress could face similar scrutiny depending on pending disqualification proceedings. The BRS's pointed reference to 'more wickets to follow' signals that the opposition intends to pursue these cases aggressively. A Khairatabad by-election is now expected, giving voters a direct say on the controversy.