Congress confident that bypolls will take at least a year, if at all the defection case comes to frution

As the defection case heats up due to the Supreme Court’s observations and stern warning to Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, the ruling Congress feels it would take at least a year, if at all a bypoll is necessitated.

Sources in the government said that only one MLA who joined the Congress from the BRS — Danam Nagender — is likely to be affected by the defection case filed by the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS). But even this one case will not be settled right now, but would take an year at least.

“So we are not in a hurry with the preparation for byelection like the BRS, which is hoping for bypolls in 10 constituencies,” a senior leader said. “Mr. Nagender’s case may attract provisions of the anti-defection law as he was the Congress candidate in the elections to the Lok Sabha. But it too can be dragged for an year within the Constitutional limits.”

Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari, whose defection issue, the BRS feels is an open and shut case, can be dragged on as it would be difficult to prove that he had defected. As Mr. Srihari himself revealed that he was working with the government for constituency development and that doesn’t attract the defection law.

Interestingly, some Congress leaders in the constituencies where the BRS MLAs are facing allegations of defection, are keen to contest.

Former Minister and senior leader T. Jeevan Reddy, who lost in Jagtial to the BRS, and is at loggerheads with the Congress party over BRS MLA Sanjay joining the Congress, is preparing to contest even as an Independent. The BRS may try to lure him, but he is keen on contesting as an Independent. He has revealed these intentions to his close followers. Similar situation may exist in two more constituencies.

Meanwhile, Mr. Danam Nagender and Mr. Kadiyam Srihari have sought additional time from Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar to submit their responses to the disqualification complaints filed against them.

Mr. Nagender, who was in New Delhi for a few days, to meet the Congress high command and get clarity on his position, is yet to reveal his plans. He apparently wants to resign and contest again. Congress party feels he would be a strong candidate for the party even if the bypoll is necessitated.

In contrast, Mr. Kadiyam Srihari wants to abide by the Speaker’s decision and would contest on the Congress party ticket if the party picks him up. His interest, however, was the entry of his daughter into politics, and it was accomplished after she won the Warangal Parliament seat.