Speaker Clears All 10 BRS Turncoat MLAs
The political battle over legislative loyalty in Telangana reached a climax today as Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissed the final two disqualification petitions against MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari. This landmark decision effectively clears all 10 legislators who originally won on BRS tickets but later shifted their support to the ruling Congress. The Speaker cited a “lack of sufficient evidence” to prove that the members had formally voluntarily given up their party membership.
This ruling comes just 24 hours before a crucial Supreme Court deadline, sparking intense debate over the effectiveness of the Anti-Defection Law. While the ruling Congress welcomes the added stability to its 74-member tally, the BRS has labeled the decision a “dark day for democracy.” BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) alleged that the Speaker acted under immense political pressure to shield the defectors from losing their seats.
In another major development, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi announced it would introduce a “Private Member Bill” in the ongoing Budget Session. The bill aims to force a legal guarantee for the “Six Guarantees” promised by the Congress during their election campaign. KTR stated that since the government has failed to provide legal status to these welfare schemes in over two years, the opposition will now push for a legally binding framework to protect the interests of farmers, women, and students.
Meanwhile, the state’s executive leadership saw a change as Shiv Pratap Shukla was sworn in as the new Governor of Telangana. The oath of office was administered by High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh at Lok Bhavan. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his cabinet were present for the ceremony. The transition occurs at a time when the state is grappling with rising urban challenges, including a flash strike by sanitation workers over wage disputes and comments made by the CM regarding garbage collection.
Adding to the friction, political temperatures soared in Khammam following the demolition of several houses by the administration. BRS leader K. Kavitha launched an indefinite hunger strike in protest, accusing the Revanth Reddy government of “bulldozing the rights of the poor.” As the assembly prepares for a heated budget debate, the combination of legal victories for the treasury benches and intensifying protests from the opposition sets the stage for a high-stakes legislative week in Hyderabad.
