Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain and senior Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Telangana Cabinet on Friday, according to official sources. The oath of office was administered by Governor Jishnu Dev Verma at a brief ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, in the presence of Chief Minister and senior party leaders.
With Azharuddin’s induction, the Telangana Cabinet now comprises 16 ministers, leaving two positions vacant, as the state is allowed a maximum of 18 ministers based on its Assembly strength.
Political observers view Azharuddin’s elevation as a strategic move by the Congress, coming at a crucial time ahead of the Jubilee Hills bypoll, where Muslim voters—numbering over one lakh—are expected to play a decisive role. The by-election was necessitated following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year due to a heart attack.
Azharuddin, who was nominated to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota in late August, is still awaiting formal approval from Governor Verma. A former Member of Parliament from Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), Azharuddin had previously contested unsuccessfully from the Jubilee Hills Assembly seat during the 2023 elections.
His entry into the state Cabinet is seen as both a symbolic and political boost for the Congress, aiming to strengthen its presence and outreach in Hyderabad’s urban and minority-dominated constituencies ahead of the crucial bypoll.
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