Hyderabad, Sept. 18 -- The Telangana High Court on Friday disqualified Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender under the anti-defection law, setting aside the decision of the Assembly Speaker and declaring the Assembly seat vacant, in a significant development in the ongoing political and legal battle over defections in the State.

Reacting to the verdict, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said the judgment would have wider implications for legislators who had crossed over from the BRS to the Congress. He said the verdict should serve as a warning to other MLAs facing similar disqualification proceedings.

Nagender was elected from Khairatabad on a BRS ticket in the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections. He subsequently joined the Congress and contest...