Secunderabad MP candidate Danam Nagender’s position is uncertain amidst the debate over Congress’s acceptance of defected MLAs and the party’s manifesto promise to strengthen the Anti-Defection Law. As the Parliamentary elections approach, there is confusion over which political party Danam Nagender now represents. He has shifted his loyalty from BRS to Congress but has not yet resigned from his MLA post, despite demands from BRS. He is preparing to contest against Padma Rao from BRS and Kishan Reddy from BJP for the MP seat in Secunderabad.
There are concerns that Danam Nagender may face technical issues during the scrutiny process. The B-form requires a clear mention of party membership, and if he fails to provide this, his application may be rejected by the Returning Officer. This could lead to a legal battle, as the Returning Officer has the final say in such matters. A decade ago, Congress questioned former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for including Talasani Srinivas Yadav in his cabinet while he was still representing TDP as an MLA. In Danam’s case, since he is contesting for the MP seat, he must clearly state his party affiliation and give up his current position.
The BRS, which won 39 seats in the recent Assembly elections, now has 35 seats after the departure of Bhadrachalam MLA Tellam Venkat Rao and the passing of Secunderabad Cantt MLA Lasya Nanditha. This has necessitated a by-poll in those constituencies. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has indicated that more BRS leaders may join Congress, while Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy claims that around two dozen MLAs are ready to switch parties. The Congress party’s proposal to amend the 10th Schedule of the Constitution to automatically disqualify members who defect is being discussed in political circles.
Overall, Danam Nagender’s candidacy and the larger issue of defection in politics continue to be topics of debate and speculation as the election season progresses.
