Khairatabad bypoll row: Danam, Vijaya Reddy trade barbs

Hyderabad: Former Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender stated on Monday that if Congress leader P Vijaya Reddy petition were to obstruct the conduct of the Khairatabad Assembly by-election, the Election Commission of India would directly approach the court. Nagender added that he would also consult legal experts and take necessary judicial recourse if required.

Addressing the media in the city, Nagender responded to the election petition filed against him by Vijaya Reddy, asserting that his disqualification resulted from his decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections and claiming he had fully anticipated this political development.

Questioning the timing of the legal petition, Nagender pointed out that the Supreme Court of India had already issued directions to conduct a by-election for the Khairatabad Assembly constituency. Furthermore, Nagender maintained that he had provided a detailed explanation regarding the allegations concerning his election affidavit before both the court and the Election Commission. He stated that neither he nor his wife possessed any connection with the disputed assets mentioned in the petition, alleging that the signatures in question were forged.

Meanwhile, Khairatabad corporator P Vijaya Reddy clarified that her case was not a fresh petition, but rather the same election petition that has remained pending before the court.

Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Monday, Vijaya Reddy stated that discussing sub judice matters publicly was inappropriate, adding that she remained unconcerned by comments made by Nagender. She further mentioned that the Election Commission of India had previously informed them that an election could not be conducted while an active election petition remained pending before the judiciary for resolution.

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The Hans India