# Supreme Court upholds Danam Nagender’s disqualification as MLA

2026-09-24T07:56:26+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed Danam Nagender's petition against the Telangana High Court judgment disqualifying him under the anti-defection law. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, said the High Court had correctly interpreted the Tenth Schedule and found no ground to interfere. The disqualification takes effect from April 23, 2024, when Nagender contested the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat as a Congress candidate while remaining a BRS MLA from Khairatabad. Nagender won the Khairatabad seat on a BRS ticket in the 2023 Assembly elections, later joined the Congress, and fought the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The High Court had set aside the Assembly Speaker's dismissal of disqualification petitions and declared the seat vacant. With the Supreme Court ruling, the Election Commission is expected to notify a by-election for Khairatabad.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All four sources report the Supreme Court dismissal without deviation. The Telangana High Court order stands: Nagender disqualified from April 23, 2024, and the Khairatabad seat vacant. Two sources lead with the court passing the ball to the Election Commission for a bypoll, the others lead with the court quashing the appeal. The unanimity confirms the anti-defection law's teeth when a member switches party while holding a seat. The Election Commission's notification of the by-election date is the next concrete step.

## Coverage

- telanganatoday.com (neutral report) <https://telanganatoday.com/supreme-court-upholds-danam-nagenders-disqualification-as-mla>
  Leads with court upholding disqualification and adds Ghar Wapsi remark, neutral report
- greatandhra.com (neutral report) <https://www.greatandhra.com/politics/telangana-news/sc-rejects-danam-petition-khairatabad-bypoll-now-likely/>
  Leads with bypoll likelihood and fixed deposit remark, neutral report
- indiatvnews.com (neutral report) <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/supreme-court-s-setback-for-danam-nagender-as-plea-against-disqualification-as-telangana-mla-dismissed-2026-09-24-1055152>
  Leads with setback framing but no opinion, neutral report
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/danam-nagender-disqualification-supreme-court-upholds-telangana-high-court-ruling-ptag-3001857-2026-09-24?utm_source=rss>
  Leads with Aaya Ram phrase and anti-defection norms, neutral report

Tags: BRS, Congress, Danam Nagender, Khairatabad, Supreme Court, Telangana High Court
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