Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at a meeting with the party legislators. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has welcomed the Supreme Court judgement in the case of 10 party MLAs joining the ruling Congress party, asking the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly to complete the proceedings over the petitions filed seeking disqualification of the 10 MLAs.
The 10 BRS MLAs who joined the Congress are Danam Nagender; Kadiyam Srihari; Tellam Venkat Rao; Pocharam Srinivas Reddy; M. Sanjay Kumar; Kale Yadaiah; Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy; T. Prakash Reddy; Arekapudi Gandhi and Gudem Mahipal Reddy.
Working president of the party K.T. Rama Rao said in a statement following the verdict on Thursday (July 31, 2025) that the judgement had proved once against that the democratic system was vigilant in the country despite some elected representatives taking the wrong path.
He expressed hoped that All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi too would welcome the verdict since it was he — as part of the ‘Paanch Nyay’ promise made in the Congress party’s election manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections — who was vocal for automatic disqualification of elected representatives in case of their defection. In case he was sincere about his commitment towards the promise, he must ensure that the 10 MLAs were disqualified.
The BRS leader said there was no need for any further inquiry into matter since the 10 MLAs regularly participated in the ruling party programmes. The BRS would get ready for the by-elections in the 10 constituencies and he asked the party ranks to work for it.
The party president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had meeting with Mr. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao, G. Jagadish Reddy and others at his Erravelli farmhouse following the Supreme Court judgement.
Meanwhile, party Whip in the Assembly K.P. Vivekanand and party general secretary Soma BharAth Kumar said speaking to newspersons that the petitions against the 10 MLAs were pending with the Speaker for about 18 months now. They termed the Supreme Court judgement as historical and said it was a slap for the Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy who had said in the Assembly that by-elections would be held for 10 seats, when the matter was pending in the Apex Court.
The BRS leaders said that any delay in disposing of the disqualification petitions within three months by the Speaker would amount to contempt of court, as stated by the Supreme Court itself in its judgement making it clear that it was for the Speaker who must act on the petitions.
Published – July 31, 2025 03:16 pm IST
