Danam Nagender, who is disqualified as Khairatabad MLA, said that he was ready to face the electorate whenever the by-election to the constituency is held, but remained tight-lipped about the party from which he would contest.

The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 24, 2026) morning dismissed Mr. Nagender’s petition challenging the Telangana High Court’s September 18 order disqualifying him as an MLA under the anti-defection law. He had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Secunderabad on a Congress ticket while continuing as the Khairatabad MLA, which the court found was overwhelming evidence for defection.

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s dismissal of his petition challenging his disqualification, Mr. Nagender said he welcomed the judgment and respected the court’s decision. “I welcome the Supreme Court’s judgment and honour it,” he said.

With the Supreme Court quashing Mr. Nagender’s petition, the Khairatabad Assembly seat now falls vacant, and a by-election has to be held.

Asked whether he would contest the by-election, Mr. Nagender said he was ready whenever the election is held. However, he declined to disclose whether he would seek the ticket from the Congress or any other party. “I will tell you after I get the ticket,” he said while speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Thursday (September 24, 2026).

Mr. Nagender was elected on the BRS ticket in 2023 from Khairatabad Assembly constituency in Hyderabad, but moved closer to the Congress a few months later. His long political career has been associated with the Congress where he held important portfolios under former Chief Ministers Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy, K. Rosaiah and Kiran Kumar Reddy in the combined Andhra Pradesh.

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday (September 24, 2026) dismissed MLA Danam Nagender’s plea challenging an order of the Telangana High Court which disqualified him following his defection to the ruling Congress, observing it was a case of ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’.

The High Court had set aside an the Assembly Speaker’s order dismissing petitions seeking his disqualification in March this year. Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on March 11 dismissed petitions seeking the disqualification of Nagender as legislator.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana said there was no ground to interfere with the High Court’s order. “Your case is ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram, phir aaya Ram’?” Justice Bagchi remarked orally. The phrase is used to describe politicians who frequently switch sides.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the MLA.

The High Court had declared Mr. Nagender, MLA from Khairatabad, disqualified as a member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly from April 23, 2024, having contested from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency on the Congress ticket in 2024, while being a MLA of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

The Court passed the order while dealing with petitions filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) floor leader in Assembly Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and P. Kaushik Reddy of BRS.

The petitioners sought to quash and set aside the Speaker’s order and to declare that Nagender be disqualified as MLA as per the 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule from the date of filing of the nomination affidavit for the 2024 General Lok Sabha elections.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao was arrested by police in Jadcherla on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) while he was proceeding to the Jurala irrigation project site, where farmers have been demanding the release of water to save their standing crops. He was moved to the district police training centre.

Senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, MP D.K. Aruna, and others, strongly condemned the arrest and demanded Mr. Rao’s immediate release. Several other leaders were put under ‘house arrest’. The leaders questioned the State government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare and warned that it would face serious repercussions if water was not released in time to protect crops.

The BJP alleged that the Congress government resorted to repressive measures and claimed that its actions had surpassed even those witnessed during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime. The party also criticized what it termed as “anti-democratic” actions of the government.

Over 20 members of the main Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) were suspended from the Telangana Assembly for the rest of the monsoon session.

Assembly Speaker G. Prasad Kumar announced the decision following a motion moved by Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu on Wednesday (September 9, 2026). The Minister moved the motion amid din created by the BRS members who thronged the Speaker’s Podium raising slogans “we want justice”.

Names of the suspended BRS MLAs

BRS deputy floor leader T. Harish Rao, its MLAs K.T. Rama Rao, G. Jagdishwar Reddy, P. Kaushik Reddy, Anil Kumar Jadhav, Kova Lakshmi, P. Sabita Indra Reddy, Sunita Lakshma Reddy, Ch. Prabhkar, K. Prabhakar Reddy, K.P. Vivekananda, T. Srinivas Yadav and K. Manik Rao were among those suspended from the House for the remainder of the session.

Why were BRS members agitated?

The BRS members were agitated over reported claims by some Congress legislators that they wanted the BRS president and Opposition Leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao dead. The BRS members led by Mr. Harish Rao raised slogans demanding a debate on the alleged remarks. Carrying placards in support of their demand, the BRS members rushed into the Well of the House and some thronged the Podium.

Repeated appeals by the Chair to the BRS members to resume their seats went in vain even as Minister Adluri Lakshman Kumar demanded a discussion on the “abusive” remarks made by BRS MLCs against the Speaker. The Minister quoted the instance of the BRS leaders and cadre cleansing the road on which the Congress leaders hailing from the Dalit community walked. He alleged that the BRS was continuing discriminatory practices and high handed behaviour against Dalits owing to its “feudal mindset”.

Repeated appeals by Minister Sridhar Babu and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka went in vain as the BRS members remained unrelenting and stayed put in the Well of the House. Mr. Vikramarka charged the BRS members with intimidating the Chair and asserted that “Dalits are not prepared to bear any more humiliation and insults”.

Mr. Sridhar Babu faulted the BRS members for not conceding to the Speaker’s request to come in a proper form to seek redressal of their grievance. The BRS members remained unmoved with the request made by the Chair to submit their grievance in writing and tried to disrupt the proceedings with their unruly behaviour. “BRS members don’t want the House to function and hence, they are creating ruckus,” he alleged.

With the BRS members sticking to their stand for more than half an hour, Mr. Sridhar Babu moved the motion to suspend the agitated members.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy demanded that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao apologise for the “inappropriate and derogatory” remarks made by the party’s MLC against Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar and his family members.

Participating in a discussion in the Assembly on the first day of the monsoon session on Monday (September 7, 2026), he said the Speaker occupied a constitutional position that deserved the same respect as any other member of the House. “Whether one is the Chief Minister or a legislator, everyone is equal before the Speaker,” he said, adding that the BRS had acted in a manner that hurt the Speaker’s dignity.

The Chief Minister said the issue was not about Mr. Prasad Kumar personally but about the high office of the Speaker. “Respecting the Speaker is our tradition. Some people spoke in such a manner against the Speaker that the entire civilised society had to bow its head in shame,” he said.

Describing the incident as an insult to the Assembly and the four crore people of Telangana, the Chief Minister said it was “a dark day for Telangana”. He condemned the alleged use of abusive language against the Speaker and remarks that insulted his family members, terming them “unforgivable”. He said decisions in the House could be taken only after the issue was thoroughly debated.

The Chief Minister also accused the BRS of having an “anti-Dalit mindset and attitude”. Referring to its past promises, he said the Opposition party had promised to make a Dalit the Chief Minister after the formation of Telangana, to provide three acres of land to Dalit families, and to implement Dalit Bandhu. He alleged that a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister was subsequently removed from the Cabinet.

He also referred to the incident in Nerella, alleging that Dalits protesting against sand lorries were run over, and accused the BRS of encouraging defections to remove a Dalit leader, Bhatti Vikramarka, from the position of Leader of the Opposition after the Congress made him its CLP leader in 2019.

The Chief Minister warned that the government’s restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. “If anyone thinks that institutions can be intimidated and brought under control through threats, we will not remain silent,” he said.

As Leader of the House, Mr. Reddy demanded that Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao tender an unconditional apology and ensure that the member who made the remarks resigns. He also demanded that the membership of the legislator who made the alleged objectionable remarks be terminated.

Ministers, MLAs and MLCs called on Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar at his chambers and expressed solidarity with him following the controversial remarks allegedly made by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Tata Madhu on the first day of the monsoon session of Telangana Assembly on Monday (September 7, 2026).

The Ministers and legislators condemned Mr. Tata Madhu’s remarks against the Speaker and conveyed their support to Mr. Prasad Kumar. They met the Speaker in his chamber and expressed concern over the comments, stating that the dignity and authority of the constitutional office of the Speaker should be respected.

The legislators also extended their support to Mr. Prasad Kumar in the wake of the remarks and reiterated the need to maintain decorum and dignity in legislative institutions.

The meeting came amid a political row over the alleged comments made by Mr. Madhu against the Speaker.

The BRS MLC apparently made derogatory remarks against the Speaker during an altercation with the police when the BRS MLAs were prevented from entering the Assembly for wearing t-shirts with objectionable content.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has recommended to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla to remove Minister Konda Surekha from the Telangana Council of Ministers with immediate effect.

The recommendation was sent to the Governor on Thursday (September 3, 2026) with the Governor expected to take a decision on the Chief Minister’s request today itself.

At the stem

The move stems from recent comment’s of Ms. Surekha’s daughter against the Chief Minister, and amid the recent political developments surrounding the Minister and senior Congress leaders. Sources said Ms. Surekha had refused to resign despite being conveyed the high command’s decision, leaving the Chief Minister with the option of recommending her removal from the Council of Ministers.

Ms. Surekha sensed the possibility of disciplinary action when she met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday. The developments subsequently gathered momentum, culminating in the Chief Minister’s recommendation to the Governor.

The decisions come against the backdrop of the Congress government seeking to enforce greater discipline within the party and the administration.

Chinna Reddy’s appointment rescinded

In a related development, Mr. Reddy decided to rescind the appointment of G. Chinna Reddy as Vice-Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board with immediate effect.

Focus on BC representation in appointments

The government’s fresh appointments also appear aimed at countering criticism that a Backward Class woman has been dropped from the Cabinet.

Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, a BC leader, has been appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Telangana Planning Board with Cabinet rank, immediately after the Chief Minister recommended the removal of Ms. Surekha.

Another BC leader, Nerella Sharada, has been appointed Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women. The appointment of former Rajya Sabha member G. Sudha Rani as Chairperson of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA) assumes significance in this context.

Ms. Sudha Rani hails from Warangal district, which is also the home district of Ms. Surekha. Her appointment is being seen within Congress circles as a signal that another BC woman leader from the district is being given prominence in the government’s political and organisational scheme.

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Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and MLC B. Mahesh Kumar Goud said farmers’ welfare remained at the centre of the government’s policies in the 1000 days of the Congress government’s rule, with the crop loans up to ₹2 lakh waived, providing relief to 25.35 lakh farmers by expending more than ₹20,000 crore.

He said the amount provided under Rythu Bharosa had reached ₹36,000 crore, while the assistance had been increased to ₹12,000 per acre. The government had spent ₹1.75 lakh crore on the agriculture sector, setting a record, Mr. Goud said. Another ₹30,000 crore had been spent on free agricultural power, while nearly ₹4,000 crore had been allocated as a bonus for fine varieties of paddy. About ₹3,500 crore had been spent on Rythu Bima, he added.

Congratulating the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the Cabinet, he said the government had created confidence among Telangana’s youth by filling more than 70,000 government posts. The introduction of breakfast in schools and colleges, and the launch of construction of 100 Young India Integrated Residential Schools, indicate a focus on school education, he said.

On social justice, Mr. Goud said the Congress government had taken several important decisions in line with the vision articulated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Backward Classes (BC) caste survey had paved the way for greater social justice, while 42% reservation had been provided to BCs in local bodies, he said.

He said farmers, women, agricultural labourers and weaker sections had been made the central focus of the government’s policies. The completion of 1,000 days, he added, was an opportunity to reaffirm the government’s commitment to inclusive development and social justice.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday (July 18, 2026) called upon the unemployed youth in Telangana to write a “death declaration” for the ruling Congress party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accusing them of deceiving the youth by failing to fulfil the promises made in the ‘Youth Declaration’ before coming to power.

However, he admitted that the BRS government had committed some mistakes regarding paper leaks and expressed regret over those failures.

Addressing the ‘Yuva Sangrama Sadassu’ at the Saroornagar Stadium in Hyderabad, KTR said he would quit politics if the Congress government proved that it had filled 70,000 jobs through notifications issued by it, arguing that several of the recruitment notifications had been indeed issued during the BRS tenure.

Alleging that the Congress party had not implemented even a single promise made as part of the ‘Youth Declaration’ from the same Saroornagar Stadium in May 2023, the former Minister said, “The Congress party has cheated the youth who believed in its promises and ensured its victory. Now, believe they were tricked,” he said.

He added that several promises, including an unemployment allowance, a ₹10 lakh interest-free loan, and 75% reservation in private-sector jobs for local youth, were among the 24 promises made.

Criticising Congress leaders, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, TPCC president and Ministers, for their alleged misleading statements on the number of government jobs filled by the incumbent government, KTR said they were giving different figures to mislead unemployed youth.

Referring to the jobs filled during the previous BRS government, KTR said it had issued notifications to fill 2.32 lakh jobs and successfully filled 1.60 lakh posts, besides facilitating the creation of more than 20 lakh jobs in the private sector.

Stating that the power of youth can unseat any government, he called upon young people to teach the Revanth Reddy government a lesson. He urged the youth to question why the government was not filling the 20,000 vacancies in the police department. Students from several universities across the State, candidates preparing for government jobs, and others attended the meeting.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao addressing ‘Yuva Sangrama Sadassu’ at Saroornagar stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Video Credit:
RAMAKRISHNA G

The case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Sai Bhagirath, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay, is now a test case for how Telangana deals with crimes against women and children. The case comes in the backdrop of the State government’s active initiatives to make online and offline spaces safer for women.

Earlier, when a government official was targeted by a ‘blind item’ in a news channel, the government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe it; a journalist of the TV channel was detained as a consequence of the move. Similarly, when an actress and her family were subjected to vicious online trolling and abuse, the police booked cases against 73 persons, and some of them have been arrested. Recently, a senior IPS officer went undercover and stood near a busy city junction at night, and at least 40 men tried to approach her. Further, data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows that there has been a 3.4% rise in registered cases of crime against women from 22,066 in 2022 to 24,495 in 2024 in Telangana.

In light of such incidents, the ‘Stand with Her’ initiative launched by the Chief Minister in March has mainstreamed conversation about casual sexism ranging from staring and stalking to sexist comments in the workplace. It has also opened up a role for men as allies in the effort to make society safer for women.

These steps show the seriousness with which the State is dealing with social and online harassment of women. In an age of AI bot-led attacks on women and systemic baiting and trolling by groups justifying rapists and molesters, the action of the Telangana government is timely. However, in spite of such measures, the Chief Minister had to step in and ask why no action has been initiated in the case of the Union Minister’s son even though the complaint was lodged on May 8.

This is the rub — the challenge to deal with both the powerful and the powerless in the same way under the law. A day after reports of the POCSO case surfaced, women’s groups and political parties have hit the streets in Hyderabad demanding action. Between the narrative of action and the action itself is the long shadow cast by political compulsions and power-play. It remains to be seen whether the State can walk the talk when it comes to women’s safety.

Online attacks

It also remains to be seen if the State can strike a balance between safeguarding free expression and curbing online targeting and harassment. Name-calling and personal attacks are not new to Indian politics or public life. What has changed is the scale, speed and anonymity with which online abuse unfolds. Women in positions of visibility are being increasingly subjected to orchestrated campaigns laced with sexualised slurs, threats and disinformation. The impact of social media trolling is not just confined to reputational harm; such attacks affect mental health, professional standing and personal safety, and are often intended to silence women from public engagement altogether. These attacks are often amplified by bots and anonymous accounts, making it harder for the cyber police to trace. The Telangana police, which is considered the first mover in technical fields, has accepted it as much. It has taken recourse to reaching out to tech platforms directly to identify the people behind certain handles; it has even invoked the dreaded Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to get details of a social media handle that had allegedly been sharing misinformation.

Approving arrests and instituting an SIT carries social and administrative signalling. By stepping in when a serving civil servant was targeted, the government is asserting that institutional authority will not be undermined through digital smear campaigns. At the same time, the action following the abuse of an actress suggests an attempt to broaden that protection beyond the bureaucracy. Yet questions remain about whether similar urgency will be extended to less prominent women who face daily harassment.

Justice and a functioning law and order system is what people expect now. The Chief Minister’s word on the POCSO case comes at the right moment. Can the Telangana government deliver justice and safety to all women, irrespective of the background of the complainants?