# Danam Nagender disqualified as MLA by Telangana High Court

2026-09-18T20:07:12+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

The Telangana High Court on Friday disqualified Danam Nagender as MLA from the Khairatabad seat, declaring the constituency vacant. The court held that Nagender, who won the 2023 assembly election on a BRS ticket, voluntarily gave up party membership by contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election as a Congress candidate. The order takes effect from April 23, 2024, the date he filed his nomination. A bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin set aside Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar's earlier decision to reject disqualification petitions. The court called the Speaker's findings 'unsustainable on grounds of violation of constitutional mandates and perversity.' Petitions against nine other MLAs are pending. The Election Commission will now announce a by-election schedule for Khairatabad.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both Telangana Today and Times of India report the disqualification as a straight court decision, with Telangana Today also noting Nagender's stated readiness to contest again. The court's sharp rebuke of the Speaker frames the judgment as a check on legislative discretion under the anti-defection law. The key next step is the by-election, the third in Greater Hyderabad since 2023, which will test both Congress and BRS organisational strength in a high-profile urban seat.

## Coverage

- telanganatoday.com (neutral report) <https://telanganatoday.com/danam-nagender-welcomes-high-court-disqualification-verdict-says-no-supreme-court-plans>
  Leads with historic first disqualification in Telangana, factual report on by-election implications
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hc-disqualifies-danam-nagender-as-mla-for-fighting-lok-sabha-polls-on-cong-ticket/articleshow/134343013.cms>
  Leads with legal reasoning, details court's criticism of Speaker, straight news agency style
- telanganatoday.com (neutral report) <https://telanganatoday.com/danam-nagendars-disqualification-sets-stage-for-khairatabad-by-election>
  Leads with historic first disqualification in Telangana, factual report on by-election implications

Tags: BRS, Congress, Danam Nagender, Khairatabad, Telangana High Court, Tenth Schedule
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