Supreme Court upholds Danam Nagender’s disqualification as MLA

The Supreme Court on Thursday (24 September 2026) dismissed former Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender's petition against a Telangana High Court order disqualifying him under the anti-defection law for switching from BRS to Congress. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant held that the High Court had correctly interpreted the Tenth Schedule and found no ground to interfere. Justice Joymalya Bagchi remarked during the hearing, 'Your case is Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram, phir Aaya Ram,' and compared Nagender's Assembly seat to a 'fixed deposit' and his Lok Sabha contest to the 'share market.'

Nagender was elected on a BRS ticket in the 2023 Assembly elections, later joined Congress, and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Secunderabad as a Congress candidate while remaining an MLA. The High Court had set aside the Assembly Speaker's dismissal of disqualification petitions, ruling that Nagender stood disqualified from 23 April 2024, the date he filed his Lok Sabha nomination. With the Supreme Court verdict, the Khairatabad seat is vacant, and the Election Commission is expected to notify a by-election. BRS leaders KTR and Harish Rao, as well as BJP president Ramchander Rao, welcomed the verdict and called on all defected MLAs to resign and seek a fresh mandate.

Update, 30 September 2026: The Supreme Court dismissed Danam Nagender's petition on Thursday, 24 September 2026, upholding the Telangana High Court's disqualification order. The ruling leaves the Khairatabad seat vacant for a by-election. BRS working president KTR called the verdict a 'supreme slap' to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and CM Revanth Reddy, while Nagender said he would seek the 'people's court' mandate.