Article Today, Hyderabad:
The issue of defections has once again stirred Telangana politics. Soon after the Congress came to power, ten legislators elected on BRS tickets joined the ruling party. The BRS has approached the Supreme Court seeking their disqualification. Acting on the court’s directions, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar issued notices to the defectors. Except for a few, most legislators have not responded so far.
Chief Minister’s Meeting
Amid the uncertainty, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy convened a closed-door meeting with nine of the rebel legislators on Sunday evening at his residence in Hyderabad. Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari stayed away. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and D. Sridhar Babu also attended. Sources said discussions covered Speaker’s notices, possible resignations, and bypoll strategies. Khairatabad MLA D. Nagender is reportedly ready to resign and contest from Jubilee Hills in a by-election.
Legislators’ Responses
Two legislators — Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy from Gadwal and Sanjay Kumar from Jagtial — have submitted replies to the Speaker. They claimed they had not defected and continued to remain with the BRS, while meeting the Chief Minister only for constituency development. Serilingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi also declared publicly that he was still in the BRS. His remarks triggered a war of words with fellow MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy. More legislators are expected to adopt similar explanations.
BRS Pressure and BJP Calculations
BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao is pressing for the disqualification of the defectors. With the Supreme Court’s order prompting notices, the next steps have gained significance. Meanwhile, the BJP is closely watching developments. If the defectors lose membership, by-elections will become inevitable. The party hopes to capitalise on rural discontent over fertilizer shortages and government performance. BJP leaders believe victories in bypolls could project them as a credible alternative in future elections.
Suspense Over Speaker’s Stand
The Speaker’s handling of the replies has now become critical. His explanation to the Supreme Court will shape the course of the issue. The apex court has already taken note of the Chief Minister’s earlier statement in the Assembly that no legislator would be disqualified. In this backdrop, the Chief Minister’s sudden meeting with the rebels has raised new questions in political circles.
