NOB_New Delhi/Hyderabad: In a big blow to Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender, the Supreme Court on Thursday (September 24, 2026) dismissed his appeal against the Telangana High Court order that disqualified him under the anti-defection law.

The Supreme Court refused to stay the High Court verdict, thereby confirming his disqualification. With this, the Khairatabad Assembly seat is officially vacant and a bypoll is certain.

The High Court on September 18 had disqualified Nagender with retrospective effect from April 23, 2024, for contesting the Secunderabad Lok Sabha polls as a Congress candidate while being elected as a BRS MLA in 2023.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued for Nagender that he had not technically left BRS, but the apex court held that contesting on another party ticket amounts to voluntarily giving up membership under the 10th Schedule and dismissed the petition.

Political analysts say the verdict will impact other defected MLAs and has heated up Telangana politics.