Hyderabad: Congress leader Vijaya Reddy has approached the Telangana High Court seeking a halt to the Khairatabad bypoll process. She asked the court not to allow issuance of the election notification until it decides her pending 2024 election petition concerning former MLA Danam Nagender.
Vijaya Reddy, daughter of former minister P. Janardhan Reddy, filed the fresh petition against the State Election Commission and Danam Nagender. She sought continuation of the earlier legal proceedings before authorities begin the by-election process.
The issue stems from the 2023 Assembly election in Khairatabad. Danam Nagender contested the election as the BRS candidate, while Vijaya Reddy represented the Congress. Nagender defeated Vijaya Reddy by 22,010 votes.
Vijaya Reddy later challenged Nagender’s election in the High Court. She alleged that he had failed to disclose important information about the assets of his wife and dependants in his election affidavit.
Her original petition sought a declaration that Nagender’s election was invalid. She also asked the court to cancel his election. The case remained pending when the latest petition was filed.
Khairatabad bypoll faces legal challenge over pending election case
The latest development followed Nagender’s disqualification from the Telangana Assembly over defection. The Telangana High Court disqualified him with effect from April 23, 2024, after setting aside the Assembly Speaker’s decision in the defection proceedings. The Supreme Court later upheld the High Court’s decision.
Following the court’s ruling, the Telangana Assembly Secretariat issued a Gazette notification declaring the Khairatabad Assembly seat vacant. Assembly Secretary Rendla Thirupathi cited the High Court judgment while notifying the vacancy.
The vacancy cleared the way for a Khairatabad by-election. The Election Commission will determine the election schedule and notification process.
Vijaya Reddy has now asked the High Court to stop that process until it decides her earlier election petition. Her latest plea names the State Election Commission and Danam Nagender as respondents.
The High Court’s response to her request will determine whether the pending election litigation affects the next steps for the Khairatabad bypoll.