Telangana HC Disqualifies Kothagudem MLA

In a surprising turn of events, the Telangana High Court has invalidated the election of Kothagudem MLA, Vanama Venkateshwara Rao, which took place on December 12, 2018. The court found that Vanama failed to provide complete property details of himself and his wife in Form 26 submitted to the election commission.

Jalagam Venkat Rao, who had contested against Vanama in the elections and secured the second position, filed a case in January 2019. After a lengthy process of hearings and adjournments, Dr. Justice Radha Rani of the Telangana High Court delivered the verdict against MLA Vanama. The court ruled that Jalagam Venkat Rao, who stood second in the election, should be recognized as the rightful MLA of the constituency. Moreover, the court imposed a fine of Rs 5 Lakh on Vanama for his non-compliance with the election commission’s requirements.

The High Court’s decision came as a shock to Vanama, who had initially contested from the Congress party but later defected to TRS, which is now known as BRS. There are speculations that Vanama may seek a B-form from BRS, but this recent development could prompt KCR to reconsider and potentially favor Jalagam, who still remains in BRS and maintains a good rapport with the party leadership.

In response to the High Court’s verdict, the BRS party stated that it would have no impact on their preparations for the upcoming elections, as they remain focused on their campaign and strategies moving forward.