Telangana Assembly Speaker Dismisses Disqualification Petition Against BRS MLA
In a significant development in Telangana politics, Assembly Speaker G Prasad Kumar on Wednesday dismissed the petition seeking disqualification of BRS MLA from Jagtial, M Sanjay Kumar. The speaker ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish that the legislator had switched loyalties to the ruling Congress party after it came to power in December 2023.
Speaker's Detailed Examination and Ruling
The speaker, who functions as the tribunal chairman for disqualification cases, had completed both oral and written arguments in Sanjay Kumar's case and reserved the order a month ago. In his comprehensive ruling, he concluded that the material placed on record did not establish defection as defined under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law.
Explaining his decision, Speaker Prasad Kumar stated that upon thorough examination of the petitions, careful consideration of all material on record, and after strictly adhering to the principles of natural justice by granting adequate opportunity to all parties concerned, he found the petitions lacking in merit. The dismissal represents a continuation of the speaker's pattern in handling such cases.
Political Reactions and Controversy
BRS working president KT Rama Rao strongly criticized the decision, calling it a "murder of democracy" in a post on social media platform X. KTR alleged that despite clear photographic and video evidence showing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy draping a scarf around Sanjay Kumar and inducting him into Congress, the speaker dismissed the petition citing lack of evidence.
"Ignoring both the Supreme Court's verdict and the people's mandate, and acting according to the chief minister's orders without taking constitutional action against the defecting MLAs, is a murder of democracy," KTR stated in his post. He further claimed that granting a clean chit to the MLA during ongoing municipal elections in Jagtial had tarnished the dignity of the speaker's office.
Background of Disqualification Petitions
Sanjay Kumar is the eighth MLA among the 10 BRS legislators who faced disqualification petitions on defection charges. Over the past two months, the speaker has dismissed petitions against eight MLAs, following directions from the Supreme Court to dispose of the cases within stipulated timelines.
The court had initially instructed the speaker to decide the cases within three months, and on January 17, the judges set a more stringent deadline of two weeks. The petitions arose after some BRS MLAs were seen sharing public platforms with Congress leaders following the party's victory in the December 2023 assembly elections.
Pending Cases and Political Dynamics
Petitions involving two more MLAs remain undecided:
- Kadiyam Srihari (Station Ghanpur)
- Danam Nagender (Khairatabad)
Though the speaker was scheduled to hear arguments in Srihari's case on Wednesday, the hearing was adjourned to February 19 due to ongoing municipal elections. Last week, the speaker had similarly postponed the hearing of disqualification petitions against Nagender, filed by BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and BJP legislator Alleti Maheshwar Reddy.
MLAs' Defense and Political Allegations
All the BRS MLAs facing disqualification proceedings have consistently maintained that they did not defect or formally join the Congress. They stated that they met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy only to seek funds for development works in their constituencies and had neither resigned from the party nor severed ties with the BRS.
Nagender, in his defense, stated that he attended a Congress party meeting in his personal capacity. However, these explanations have failed to satisfy opposition parties, who continue to press for disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Broader Political Implications
The BRS has accused the Congress government of shielding defectors to avoid by-elections, an issue that has gained significant political traction amid ongoing municipal polls. KTR alleged that the Congress, still reeling from setbacks in panchayat elections, fears facing by-elections that could potentially weaken their position.
"The Revanth government is clearly shaken by the widespread anger among urban residents over the chief minister's failures and deceptions during the municipal elections," KTR added in his statement. He warned that what he called the chief minister's "grotesque political game" would inevitably face consequences in the public arena.
Other Political Voices
Senior Congress leader and former minister Jeevan Reddy commented that Sanjay Kumar, who claims he continues to be a BRS MLA, should focus on his own party rather than involve himself in Congress party affairs in the assembly constituency.
Former MLC K Kavitha also criticized the speaker's decision, pointing out that Sanjay Kumar had participated in a Congress party meeting at Gandhi Bhavan, which she said clearly established that he had defected to the Congress.
The ongoing legal and political battle over alleged defections continues to shape Telangana's political landscape, with implications for both the ruling Congress and opposition BRS as they navigate complex constitutional and electoral challenges.
