Telangana HC sets aside Speaker’s order, declares Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender stands disqualified as member of Legislative Assembly
The Telangana High Court has disqualified MLA Danam Nagender for violating the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution by switching parties after his election. The court set aside the Speaker's previous order, ruling that Nagender's candidacy for a different party while holding office as a BRS MLA constitutes grounds for disqualification.
Why it matters
This ruling reinforces anti-defection laws in India and sets a precedent for how legislative bodies handle members who switch political allegiances.
The Telangana High Court on Friday (September 18, 2026) set aside the Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar’s order which dismissed petitions seeking Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender’s disqualification. The bench headed by the Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh declared that ‘Danam Nagender stands disqualified from April 23, 2024 as a member of Telangana Legislative Assembly’ having contested from Secunderabad Lok Sabha on Congress ticket having been elected as MLA as BRS candidate.
Mr. Nagender contested as Congress candidate from Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat in 2024 having been elected as Khairatabad MLA on BRS ticket the previous year.
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