Wed Dec 17 11:55:30 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has dismissed disqualification petitions against five BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samiti) MLAs. The petitions alleged that the MLAs had defected to the ruling Congress party. The Speaker ruled that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the MLAs had switched allegiances. The decision comes after months of hearings and amidst a Supreme Court deadline for resolving the petitions. The Speaker will address rulings on three more legislators, with two further legislators requesting more time to respond to notices.

News Article:

Telangana Speaker Dismisses Disqualification Pleas Against Five BRS MLAs

Hyderabad, India – December 17, 2025 – In a highly anticipated decision, Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has dismissed disqualification petitions filed against five Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) MLAs. The petitions, brought forth by the BRS leadership, alleged that the MLAs – Arekapudi Gandhi, Tellam Venkat Rao, Gudem Mahipal Reddy, T. Prakash Goud, and Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy – had defected to the ruling Congress party.

Speaker Kumar stated that the petitioners failed to provide adequate proof to substantiate their claims of defection. The ruling follows nearly three months of hearings, during which the Speaker heard arguments from both sides regarding the MLAs’ alleged shift in allegiance.

“The petitioners did not submit necessary proofs to substantiate their charge that the MLAs switched sides,” Speaker Kumar announced, citing the report compiled by the tribunal established under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection Law).

BRS advocates presented evidence suggesting close ties between the MLAs and the ruling Congress, while defense attorneys argued that the MLAs remained with the BRS and were simply engaging with the government to secure funding and development projects for their constituencies. Advocates for Mr. Gandhi emphasized he continued to be the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, a role given to the principal Opposition party. The MLAs also maintained they continued to sit with their party.

The Speaker’s decision to dismiss the petitions was based on the grounds that they were not maintainable and the MLAs’ continued affiliation with the BRS.

The Speaker is expected to issue rulings on the disqualification petitions against three additional BRS legislators – Kale Yadaiah, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and M. Sanjay Kumar – within the next two days. The outcome remains uncertain.

Adding another layer of complexity, two more MLAs, Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari, did not attend the hearings. They requested additional time from the Speaker to respond to notices.

The ruling comes amidst a deadline set by the Supreme Court to resolve the disqualification petitions filed against a total of ten BRS MLAs. This decision will likely have significant political ramifications for the state, and the future of the remaining petitions remains to be seen.

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