Kishan Reddy Welcomes HC Verdict in Danam Nagender Disqualification Case

Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Saturday welcomed the High Court's verdict in the case concerning Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender, describing it as a victory for the Constitution and the rule of law.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Reddy alleged that the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had made a practice of encouraging defections, in which elected representatives switched parties without resigning from their elected positions. He said political parties had for several years disregarded the mandate of voters by engineering such defections.

The Minister recalled that former united Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had encouraged defections on behalf of the Congress, and alleged that BRS president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had continued the practice after coming to power.

Mr. Reddy said the BJP had approached the High Court challenging the Speaker's decision on the disqualification petition against Mr. Nagender, who had been elected as a BRS MLA before joining the Congress. The High Court held that the Speaker's decision was contrary to law and violated the anti-defection provisions, he said.

Calling the judgment just and fair, Mr. Reddy said the court had held that Mr. Nagender could not continue as an MLA from the day he filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha election. He said the verdict strengthened constitutional principles and the rule of law and would be welcomed by the people of Telangana.

Criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his campaign invoking the Constitution, Mr. Reddy demanded that he explain the basis on which the Congress high command had given the Lok Sabha ticket to Mr. Nagender.