Why is Telangana MLA Danam Nagender Requesting More Time for Disqualification Notice?
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Key Takeaways
Hyderabad, Nov 23 (NationPress) Danam Nagender, a member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly representing the Khairatabad constituency, has requested an extension to address the disqualification notice issued by Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. Nagender is among the ten BRS MLAs accused of switching allegiance to the Congress party.
In his communication to the Speaker, Nagender has sought additional time to formulate a response. The Speaker has already conducted hearings concerning the disqualification petitions of eight MLAs accused of defecting from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to the ruling Congress party.
On November 20, fresh notices were dispatched to both Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari, requesting their replies by November 23. This marks the third instance where these MLAs have received notices after failing to respond previously.
Srihari has already applied for more time to reply to the latest notice.
The BRS has filed disqualification petitions against ten MLAs elected on their ticket in the 2023 elections, who later pledged allegiance to Congress in 2024.
The Speaker has wrapped up hearings regarding the disqualification of eight MLAs, including Kale Yadaiah, Krishna Mohan Reddy, G. Mahipal Reddy, T. Prakash Goud, Sanjay Kumar, Arekapudi Gandhi, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and Tellam Venkat Rao. Following arguments from both parties, the Speaker has reserved their order.
BRS alleges that these MLAs publicly joined the Congress party and even occupied treasury benches in the Assembly, while the MLAs counter that they merely met with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to request funding for development projects in their constituencies.
The BRS highlighted that Nagender not only joined Congress but also ran for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Secunderabad on a Congress ticket. Additionally, they claimed that Kadiyam Srihari campaigned for his daughter, Kadiyam Kaviya, who contested as the Congress candidate from the Warangal constituency.
On November 17, the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to the Telangana Speaker for failing to follow its directive to decide on the disqualification petitions against the ten MLAs.
A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai instructed the Assembly Speaker to resolve the disqualification issue within three months. The bench characterized the non-compliance with prior directives as a serious form of contempt, issuing notices to the Speaker and others regarding the petitions filed by the BRS leaders. The bench also acknowledged a separate request from the Speaker's office for an additional eight weeks to decide on the disqualification petitions.
The bench has scheduled further hearings in four weeks.