Cong likely to induct Azhar into Telangana Cabinet

Ahead of the Jubilee Hills bypoll, former cricketer and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin is likely to be inducted into the Telangana Cabinet on Thursday. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been facing severe criticism for not having a single representative from the minority community in the Cabinet. Azharuddin’s induction is aimed at wooing the voters before the crucial bypoll, as the Jubilee Hills constituency has a substantial minority vote and both Congress and BRS are vying for it.

Azharuddin had lost the Assembly election from Jubilee Hills in 2023. He had again lobbied for a party ticket for the upcoming bypoll, but Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was not keen on it. Instead, Azharuddin was assured that he would be nominated for an MLC post under the Governor’s quota. However, the party nominated Naveen Yadav, who contested from the same constituency in the past, either on an AIMIM ticket or as an independent. The AIMIM has also extended its support to the Congress candidate, with party chief Assaduddin Owaisi canvassing for him. However, with the BRS giving a tough fight to the Congress for the seat by nominating the wife of the sitting legislator, Maganti Gopinath, after he passed away, the Congress thought that inducting a minority leader into the Cabinet would send a strong message of sincerity to the community.

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The swearing-in ceremony for the former India captain is likely to be held at Raj Bhavan on Thursday. He may be given the minority affairs and sports portfolios, which are currently under the Chief Minister. With Azharuddin’s induction, the strength of the Cabinet will go up to 16.

However, the BRS has warned that Azharuddin is unlikely to be nominated as an MLC in the next six months and accused the Congress of trying to pull the wool over the eyes of voters in Jubilee Hills.