SC dismisses Danam Nagender's plea against disqualification

The disqualification of Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender has created a political opportunity for the Congress in Hyderabad, potentially leading to a by-election in the Assembly constituency. Nagender, who initially won the Khairatabad seat on a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) ticket in 2023, joined the Congress in 2024 and was subsequently disqualified.

This by-election is more than just a contest for an Assembly seat; it is an opportunity for the Congress to strengthen its organizational and political presence in Hyderabad, where the BRS has maintained a significant electoral footprint. Nagender has expressed interest in contesting the by-election, which could also be significant in the context of the State Cabinet expansion.

If he wins, he could vie for a ministerial berth, addressing two key political requirements for the Congress: providing a strong elected representative from Hyderabad in the Cabinet and representing the Munnuru Kapu community, as currently, the Congress lacks a Minister from Hyderabad. The removal of Konda Surekha from the Cabinet has heightened the significance of this opportunity, as she filled the Munnuru Kapu community requirement through her husband.

However, the emergence of strong BC candidates for the Cabinet berth could pose challenges for Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who has been working to expand the Congress's political base in the city. The Congress gained Hyderabad's Secunderabad Cantonment and Jubilee Hills by-elections in recent years, but these victories have brought in young, first-time legislators, lacking the influence of established city leaders.

Nagender, once regarded as one of the Congress's influential leaders in Hyderabad, joined the BRS to win the 2018 and 2023 polls and had considerable influence in the city. His return to the Congress is significant beyond the Khairatabad seat. However, the immediate challenge lies in the impending by-election itself.