Former cricketer Azharuddin may join Telangana Cabinet, BJP calls it appeasement

Former Indian cricket captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin is likely to be inducted into the Telangana Cabinet soon, according to party insiders. The move comes amid the high-stakes Jubilee Hills by-poll, where the minority vote is expected to play a decisive role.

Sources said the proposal to include Azharuddin, who was nominated as an MLC under the Governor’s quota in August, has received approval from the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

“The swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held the day after tomorrow (Friday),” they said, adding that the Governor is yet to clear his appointment.

The current Cabinet, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, has 15 members but no representation from the minority community. Under constitutional provisions, three more members can still be inducted.

Party leaders believe appointing a Muslim minister would strengthen Congress’s position, particularly in Jubilee Hills, which has over one lakh Muslim voters.

The by-election was necessitated following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year.

However, the BJP has criticised the move, calling it politically motivated. Telangana BJP Chief N Ramchander Rao said, “While the Jubilee Hills by-election is going on, the Congress government in Telangana wants to make Mohammad Azharuddin a Minister. This is nothing but an act of appeasement and a violation of the moral code of conduct.”

Responding to the criticism, Congress leader SA Sampath Kumar said the decision was made after minority leaders urged the Chief Minister to ensure community representation.

“Azharuddin is a familiar cricket player, a former MP from UP, and has served as the working president of TPCC. Every time they are not in a position to win the elections, they (BJP) bring community deviation,” he said.

If inducted, Azharuddin will become the first minister from a minority community in Revanth Reddy’s Cabinet. Party insiders also hinted that the move could have implications beyond Telangana, given that the Congress is gearing up for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, where Muslim voters form a significant bloc.

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