Kadiyam Srihari hits back at KTR over defection row, cites Speaker’s authority

Hyderabad: Congress MLA and Station Ghanpur representative Kadiyam Srihari has responded sharply to the Supreme Court’s remarks in the ongoing defection case, reaffirming that the Speaker’s ruling on disqualification is final.

Taking aim at BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, Srihari objected to KTR’s recent comments calling on party workers to prepare for elections within three months. “It is not KTR who decides by-elections—it’s the Election Commission,” Srihari said.

He questioned the moral right of KCR or KTR to speak on defections, alleging that the BRS repeatedly violated anti-defection laws during its decade in power by merging parties and inducting MLAs.

He expressed confidence about retaining his seat if a by-election is held and said they are waiting for the Speaker’s decision.