Telangana Speaker Rejects Disqualification Plea Against Jagtial MLA Sanjay Kumar

Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has dismissed the disqualification petition filed against Jagtial MLA Dr. M. Sanjay Kumar , marking another key turn in the ongoing political dispute over alleged defections in the state. The petition was submitted by Jagadish Reddy of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) , who accused Sanjay Kumar of switching allegiance after being elected on a BRS ticket in the 2023 Assembly elections. While rejecting the plea, the Speaker stated that there was no concrete evidence to prove that the MLA had voluntarily given up party membership , which is the key legal test under the anti-defection law .

With this decision, disqualification petitions against eight MLAs facing similar accusations have now been rejected, leaving only two cases, those of Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari still pending before the Speaker. The controversy began after BRS alleged that Sanjay Kumar and several others had joined the ruling Indian National Congress in 2024. However, the Speaker’s rulings so far suggest that mere meetings, public appearances, or political speculation are not enough grounds for disqualification without strong proof of a formal or demonstrable shift in party loyalty.

Responding to the verdict, Sanjay Kumar firmly denied claims that he joined Congress and clarified that his meeting with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was purely related to constituency development works . He stated that he continues to function as a BRS MLA and revealed that ₹5,000 is deducted every month from his salary as a donation to the BRS legislative party. He also noted that during BRS’s tenure in power, leaders from other parties had joined it, suggesting that political alignments often shift in Indian politics.

The Speaker’s decision carries significant political implications , easing immediate pressure on the ruling side while limiting BRS’s legal challenge route in the Assembly. At the same time, the episode has revived debate over the effectiveness of the Tenth Schedule and whether the process of deciding defection cases currently vested in the Speaker requires reform to ensure faster and more transparent outcomes.