Khairatabad seat declared vacant, bypoll battle set to begin | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Telangana is headed for another assembly by-election after the assembly secretariat formally declared the Khairatabad constituency vacant following the disqualification of Danam Nagender as its MLA. The vacancy was notified after the high court’s order, which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court, paving the way for a bypoll in the constituency.Assembly secretary V Narender Thirupathi issued a gazette notification (C No. 210/Legn/2026) declaring the seat vacant. The notification, issued on Sept 26 and published on Monday, stated that Danam stands disqualified from the Telangana legislative assembly with effect from April 23, 2024, the date on which he filed his nomination as a Congress candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.“In pursuance of the judgement by the Telangana high court in writ petition Nos. 8409 and 8647 of 2026 delivered on Sept 18, it is hereby notified that Danam Nagender, member of the legislative assembly, stands disqualified with effect from April 23, 2024, under the paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule with Article 191(2) of the Constitution and the seat stands vacant with effect from April 23, 2024,” the gazette notification said.The declaration of vacancy clears the way for a by-election, which must be conducted within six months. Political circles expect the Khairatabad bypoll to be held alongside the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections before March 2027.This will be the third assembly by-election since the Congress came to power in Telangana in Dec 2023. Earlier bypolls were held in the Secunderabad Cantonment and Jubilee Hills constituencies following the deaths of the sitting MLAs, with the ruling Congress retaining both seats. Khairatabad, however, will mark the first assembly by-election in the state arising from the disqualification of an MLA.The development also assumes significance as the high court is yet to deliver its verdict in the defection cases involving nine other BRS legislators who switched allegiance. Sources said hearings in those cases are likely to resume in the second week of Oct.With a by-election now imminent, the Congress, BRS and BJP have begun preliminary preparations for the contest. Aspirants in all three parties have already stepped up efforts to secure nominations, though a clearer picture on candidates is expected only after the Election Commission of India announces the poll schedule for the Khairatabad by-election.