Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender disqualification case: Speaker fixes Jan 30 for hearing

Hyderabad: Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has fixed January 30 for hearing the disqualification petition filed against Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender.

The legislator has submitted an affidavit strongly contesting the allegations and seeking dismissal of the plea.

Speaker issues notices, hearing date fixed

Prasad Kumar has scheduled the hearing on January 30 and issued notices to Danam Nagender, MLA Kaushik Reddy and the advocates representing the parties, directing them to be present.

On the same day, the Speaker will also take up a disqualification petition filed by BJP Legislature Party leader Maheshwar Reddy. The petitioners’ evidence is to be formally recorded during the proceedings.

Affidavit filed, disqualification sought to be rejected

Ahead of the hearing, Danam Nagender filed an affidavit in response to the disqualification petition submitted by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). He urged the Speaker to reject the petition, terming the allegations of defection as baseless and legally untenable.

‘No resignation, no intimation of suspension’

In his affidavit, the MLA asserted that he has not resigned from the BRS and has not received any official communication indicating that he was suspended from the party.

He maintained that there is no formal record or decision to suggest a break in his party affiliation.

‘Congress meeting attended in personal capacity’

Danam Nagender clarified that his presence at a Congress meeting in March 2024 was purely in his personal capacity. He argued that attending a meeting does not amount to defection and cannot be construed as joining another political party.

‘Media reports cannot be basis for defection’

The MLA contended that the BRS inferred defection solely on media reports. He maintained that such reports cannot form the legal basis for a disqualification petition and stressed that his response addresses only the specific allegations raised in the plea.

‘Subsequent developments should not be considered’

Citing earlier court rulings, Danam Nagender argued that the disqualification petition itself is not maintainable.

He further requested the Speaker not to admit or rely upon any developments that occurred after the filing of the petition as supplementary material.

All eyes on January 30 hearing

With notices already served and affidavits filed, the January 30 hearing before the Speaker is expected to be crucial in determining the future course of the disqualification proceedings against the Khairatabad MLA.