Congress going away from agenda of anti-defection, encouraging turncoats in Telangana

HYDERABAD: The Congress has pledged to amend the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution to stem the tide of rampant defections. In its manifesto released on Friday, the party vows to make defection—an act of leaving the original party on which the MLA or MP was elected—an automatic disqualification from membership in the Assembly or Parliament.

However, in Telangana, several questions have arisen after some leaders joined the Congress without formally resigning from their original parties. BRS MLA Danam Nagender, who won the Telangana State Assembly elections representing the BRS, is now facing scrutiny over his eligibility for a Congress MP ticket.

While many MP aspirants continue to lobby in Delhi, Danam Nagender is resisting resignation. Numerous allegations have surfaced claiming that the Congress makes promises in its manifesto but admits MLAs without requiring them to resign from their current positions.

BRS MLAs have earlier urged Telangana Speaker Gaddam Prasad to disqualify Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender for defecting to the Congress after winning on a BRS symbol. BRS leaders have emphasised the shamefulness of being elected on one party's symbol only to defect to another.

BRS MLA Kaushik Reddy also recalled Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's statement, in which he condemned those who switched parties after winning, suggesting such individuals should be treated harshly. The uncertainty lingers: Will Danam Nagender resign or not?

The Congress manifesto pledge reads: "We promise to amend the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution to make defection—an act of leaving the original party on which the MLA or MP was elected—an automatic disqualification for membership in the Assembly or Parliament."