Supreme Court Upholds Disqualification of Telangana MLA Danam Nagender

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, dismissed Nagender’s plea to overturn the September 18 High Court judgment. The ruling confirms that the Khairatabad Assembly seat is vacant, setting a firm precedent regarding the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. During proceedings, the bench questioned the validity of Nagender’s "ghar wapasi"—his attempt to return to the BRS after his failed parliamentary bid—noting that reconciliation with a political party does not automatically restore a legislator's standing in the House.

Ravula Sridhar, BRS spokesperson, characterized the verdict as a rebuke to the Congress for incentivizing defections. Sridhar demanded that the ruling party show consistency with its stated values by forcing other defected MLAs to resign their seats. The case, rooted in petitions by BJP MLA Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy, highlights the tension between shifting political allegiances and the legal consequences of the anti-defection law. With the Supreme Court’s intervention, the original High Court directive stands, compelling a fresh look at the status of other legislators who switched camps following the 2024 elections.