Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker G. Prasad Kumar.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The stage is all set for Assembly Speaker G. Prasad Kumar to announce his verdict on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) on the disqualification petitions pertaining to five of the 10 MLAs of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti who allegedly defected to the ruling Congress after winning on the BRS ticket.
The Speaker has decided to announce the course of action into the petitions filed against MLAs Tellam Venkat Rao, Arekapudi Gandhi, Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy, T. Prakash Goud and Gudem Mahipal Reddy by the BRS leadership. The development follows the deadline set by the Supreme Court on November 17 for completing the process within four weeks.
Supreme Court former Chief Justice B.R. Gavai who took note of the representation made by the BRS heard the contempt petition filed by the BRS against the Speaker for allegedly not complying with the Apex Court’s direction to decide on the disqualification petitions against 10 BRS MLAs before the expiry of the three-month deadline ended on October 31.
The Chief Justice on November 17 warned that the Assembly Speaker was in “gross contempt” for delaying decision on the petitions filed by the BRS leaders seeking disqualification of their MLAs who shifted allegiance to the ruling Congress. “Either this (disqualification petitions) have to be decided by next week or fact contempt. We have already said he (the Speaker) does not enjoy constitutional immunity while acting as a tribunal under the Tenthi Schedule. It is up to him to decide where he wants to spend on the New Year’s day,” Justice Gavai said.
Forced by the CJI’s tone and tenor, Mr. Prasad Kumar commenced hearings into the petitions summoning the 10 MLAs. Eight of these MLAs attended the hearings which comprised of examination and cross examination by the petitioners and respondents respectively on the proofs submitted in support of the disqualification petitions. While the MLAs argued that they had met Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Ministers seeking redressal of problems in their respective constituencies, the petitioners (BRS leaders) submitted documentary and video proofs to substantiate their charges on defection by these MLAs to the Congress.
The decision in respect of MLAs M. Sanjay, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Kale Yadaiah who attended the hearings is likely to be announced soon, sources said. Interestingly, two MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiya Srihari are yet to respond to the notices served by the Speaker and they reportedly sought more time for doing so.
(eom)
Published – December 17, 2025 12:02 pm IST
