Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has categorically rejected the claims of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) about probable by-elections in the state as baseless. While putting forward the argument in the Assembly, the CM put forward valid questions, asking why by-elections could now be justified if in the same situation in the past, by-elections were not conducted. Revanth pointed to cases where party-hopping leaders were made ministers, but no by-elections were conducted. Assuaging the Assembly members, he assured them that the government is still adhering to well-settled conventions and practices.
In a key development, the BRS has moved to the Supreme Court, filing petitions for disqualifying ten MLAs under anti-defection legislation. In a hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court bench delivered some significant comments, citing prior constitutional judgments establishing precise timelines for resolving resignation or disqualification issues. The court held that the precedents could not be brushed aside and need to inform the proceedings now underway.
The conversation also highlighted Danam Nagender’s case, wherein he, being a BRS MLA, later contested as an MP candidate of Congress. The bench emphasized taking tangible action against such defection cases, laying emphasis on political integrity.
While this is happening, some of the MLAs whose names have been included in the petitions are preparing to make their case before the Supreme Court, stating that they have not defected from their party. Constitutional provisions state that only the Speaker of the Assembly has the power to disqualify MLAs under anti-defection laws. Political analysts point out, however, that Danam Nagender’s case may be especially hard to defend, considering the nature of his case.
