Defector MLA Ready to Quit on CM’s Word
lIn a significant political statement amidst the ongoing anti-defection proceedings, former Minister and Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender has publicly expressed his willingness to resign from his assembly seat. Mr. Nagender, one of the ten Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislators who switched loyalties to the ruling Congress party, stated that he would submit his resignation if directed to do so by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The MLA’s comments come at a crucial time, as the Telangana Assembly Speaker faces a directive from the Supreme Court to expedite a decision on the disqualification petitions filed by the BRS against the defectors. The apex court has repeatedly emphasized the need for swift action under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which governs anti-defection law. The judicial focus on the matter has put immense pressure on all parties involved.
Mr. Nagender, who joined the Congress after the 2023 Assembly elections and even contested the recent Lok Sabha polls on the ruling party’s ticket, is currently facing a disqualification notice.His latest statement is being widely interpreted as a political maneuver to address the legal ambiguity surrounding his position. By offering to resign based on the Chief Minister’s instruction, he appears to be placing his political fate entirely in the hands of the Congress leadership.
While some of the defecting MLAs have maintained they have not formally joined the Congress and claim they only met the Chief Minister to discuss constituency development, Mr. Nagender’s public offer is a clear acceptance of his alignment with the ruling party. This move shifts the focus and pressure onto Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who is now tasked with making a pivotal decision: accept the resignation and risk a by-election, or continue to allow the judicial process to run its course.
The BRS, the main opposition party, has been relentless in its pursuit of the disqualification of these ten MLAs, arguing that their defection undermines democratic norms and the mandate of the people. They have welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention, and the potential for a by-election is seen as an opportunity for the party to test the public mood after their loss in the last state election.
For the Congress, the situation is complex. While they maintain a comfortable majority in the Assembly, a series of by-elections could be a politically risky proposition, forcing them to defend multiple seats against a motivated opposition. The party leadership will carefully weigh the political cost of a potential by-poll against the benefit of solidifying their position and silencing critics of political defections.
The question of when, or if, the Chief Minister will respond to this public challenge remains. The MLA’s readiness to resign has brought the entire issue of political defections and the strict enforcement of the anti-defection law back into the state’s political spotlight. All eyes are now on the Assembly Speaker and the Chief Minister for their next move, which will significantly influence the political landscape of Telangana in the coming months.
