Telangana MLAs Defection: BRS Files Contempt Plea Against Speaker Gaddam Prasad

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by K Chandrashekar Rao, has filed a contempt of court petition in the Supreme Court against Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.

The party alleged that the Speaker failed to act on the issue of MLAs’ defection despite the Supreme Court’s directive to complete the process within three months.

The case dates back to 2023, when ten BRS MLAs defected to the Congress after the party came to power and A Revanth Reddy became Chief Minister.

On July 31, the Supreme Court had directed the Speaker to conduct an inquiry and decide on the disqualification petitions within three months. However, before the October 31 deadline, the Speaker’s office sought two additional months to respond.

The BRS moved the Supreme Court, stating that the Speaker had taken no action even after receiving clear instructions from the apex court.

Reports suggest that the Speaker began questioning the defected MLAs from November 6, with two legislators being examined each day as part of a planned schedule.

The contempt plea was mentioned before Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, who agreed to list it for hearing next Monday.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the Speaker neither initiated nor completed the inquiry and that the defected MLAs continue to hold office, defying the court’s orders.

He urged for an urgent hearing, alleging that the respondents were trying to delay proceedings until CJI Gavai’s retirement on November 23.

In response, CJI Gavai remarked, “The Supreme Court will not close after November 24,” signaling that the case will proceed without interruption.