Telangana’s political landscape is once again gripped by the issue of MLAs’ switching parties with the Supreme Court’s July 25, 2025, directive giving Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad three months to decide on the status of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs who ‘crossed’ over to the Congress.
Ten MLAs from the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) ‘switched’ over to the Congress, though some of them backtracked their statements, claiming they were still in the BRS but only staying away from the party. The BRS took the issue to the Supreme Court seeking their disqualification last year, but the apex Court directed the Speaker to take action within three months on the BRS representations seeking action against the defectors.
The Speaker, mindful of the sensitivity, is now consulting legal experts before issuing disqualification notices under the anti-defection law. Sources said he is likely to seek the MLAs’ responses very soon. The issue is complex with Constitutional processes involved and the judiciary navigating into the powers of Legislature.
The defection controversy gained traction after a few BRS MLAs met Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Some of them were offered Congress scarves and photographs released to the media though the MLAs claimed their meeting was related to development of their respective constituencies. The BRS legislators, accused of switching loyalties have been sitting separately in the Assembly, signaling moving away from their party.
Chief Minister’s response on fate of MLAs
The Chief Minister gave a stamp of authority to their ‘induction’ in the Congress, questioning the morality of the BRS, which raised hue and cry over the MLAs crossing over. When questioned on the ‘fate of these MLAs’ due to the legal issues, the Chief Minister said ‘the same would happen that happened in the last 10 years,’ which clearly meant their disqualification is not a question at all.
The scenario if Speaker issues notices
What is the likely scenario if the Speaker issues notices to them now? The MLAs will have to respond, giving their version, either accepting the charges or denying the same. After receiving the letters, the Speaker can take a decision or may seek further clarifications.
If the written clarifications from the MLAs insist that they only “distanced themselves” from BRS without joining Congress, disqualification proceedings may enter a grey zone. Meanwhile, to overcome the three-month deadline, the Speaker’s office is likely to challenge the deadline itself after starting the process.
Though the opinion is divided on the Speaker’s powers being encroached upon by the judiciary, the Speaker is likely to take a non-confrontational path and seek an extension of time from the Supreme Court. There would be enough reasons for him to drag the issue without annoying the apex court, is the opinion of senior legal experts.
MLAs crossing over not new in Telangana
MLAs switching loyalties is not new to Telangana politics. After the State was formed, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) faced repeated accusations of engineering defections to consolidate the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (now BRS). Legislators from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and even the Communist Party of India (CPI) were absorbed into the ruling party (BRS). In a rare instance for the Left parties, CPI MLA Ravindra Naik from Devarakonda joined TRS, highlighting the unusual reach of KCR’s political moves.
The BRS chief orchestrated the defection of 61 elected representatives in his two terms, initiating the culture of MLAs crossing over in the newly formed Telangana. In fact, he defended the defections at a press conference, saying, “What would I do if the opposition MLAs want to join my party. Should I deny?”
KCR started the culture of MLAs switching parties from the day he came to power in June 2014 inducting two MLAs from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Indrakaran Reddy and Koneru Konappa. On December 16, 2014, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA, was appointed as a minister. KCR subsequently facilitated the defection of 11 TDP MLAs — one after another — culminating in the official merger of TDP with the TRS on March 11, 2016. Srinivas Yadav remained a TDP MLA and a TRS Minister for more than 14 months.
During KCR’s first term (2014-2018), four MPs, 25 MLAs, and 18 MLCs from other parties joined BRS, totalling 47 defections. In the second term (2018-2023), another 14 MLAs, including 12 from Congress and two from TDP, crossed over to BRS. One of the Congress MLAs, Sabitha Indra Reddy, was also made a Minister, and a few others were accommodated as chairpersons of Corporations.
In this process of defections, Congress also lost the status of the main Opposition party and its leader, Bhatti Vikramarka, the status of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP). However, the 2023 Assembly elections delivered a bitter lesson, barring Sabitha Indra Reddy, all the turncoats who had left their original parties to join the BRS were rejected by the people.
The culture of MLAs switching parties was seen even in the united Andhra Pradesh. During Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure, defections occurred from the TRS. However, those MLAs largely refrained from officially joining the Congress but sat separately in the Assembly, and got more prominence in the Assembly time, which was used to attack KCR, his working style and party’s approach to Telangana agitation.
KCR was furious over such culture, and in fact, questioned the media’s morality in not raising the issue enough, and blamed the Congress for trying to dilute the Telangana agitation. However, after attaining power, he too continued the practise of MLAs shifting parties only with more vigour and the Congress, being the victim, raised hue and cry over it. Back in power, Congress is indulging in a similar act now and defending it too.
No threat to govt
For Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, there is little immediate threat. Even if the ‘defectors’ are disqualified, his government’s stability remains intact. There would be a real test of strength if by-elections are necessitated. Such a scenario would not only measure the Congress’ ability to consolidate power but also throw up challenges on BRS revival.
Published – August 21, 2025 02:46 pm IST
