Former Cricket Star Mohammad Azharuddin Joins Telangana Cabinet Amid Political Controversy

Hyderabad:

Former cricket captain and senior Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin has been inducted into the Telangana cabinet. The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Governor Jishnu Dev Verma at Raj Bhavan this morning. This appointment fills a critical vacancy and marks the first Muslim representative in the current Congress government's cabinet.

Opposition parties have characterized this appointment as a strategic electoral move ahead of the November 11 Jubilee Hills constituency bypoll, where approximately 30% of voters are from the Muslim community.

The BJP has raised formal objections to the timing, sending a complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer claiming a Model Code of Conduct violation. BJP representatives have argued that appointing a minister who recently sought candidacy from the same constituency constitutes an inappropriate use of official authority to sway voters.

In defense of the appointment, Congress leadership has emphasized their commitment to inclusive representation. "The Congress party had promised cabinet representation for minorities. Previous governments in Andhra Pradesh consistently included minority representation. We are simply addressing a long-standing imbalance," Telangana Congress president Mahesh Goud explained to NDTV.

Azharuddin is not currently a member of either legislative house, though this is required for ministerial positions. He has been nominated to the legislative council through the Governor's quota, but awaits official confirmation. To maintain his cabinet position, he must become an MLC within six months.

Responding to criticism, Goud pointed out that the BJP had similarly appointed an election candidate as minister in Rajasthan, who was subsequently defeated by a Congress opponent.