HYDERABAD: Former Indian cricket captain and senior Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Telangana cabinet on Thursday morning, filling a long-pending vacancy and giving the Congress government its first Muslim representation. The oath of office was administered by Governor Jishnu Dev Verma at Raj Bhavan.
Azharuddin’s induction, though celebrated by Congress supporters, has triggered a political storm in Telangana ahead of the November 11 bypoll in Jubilee Hills, a constituency with nearly 30% Muslim electorate.
BJP objects to timing, alleges poll code violation
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly objected to the timing of Azharuddin’s inclusion in the cabinet, calling it a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. BJP leaders have written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging that inducting a minister during the election period—particularly someone who had recently sought a ticket from the same seat—amounts to misuse of official power and an attempt to influence voters.
BJP spokespersons said the move was politically motivated, designed to sway minority votes in the upcoming bypoll. “The Congress government is using cabinet posts as an electoral tool,” a BJP representative said.
Congress defends decision as ‘social justice’
The ruling Congress dismissed the BJP’s allegations, stating that Azharuddin’s appointment was part of the party’s long-standing commitment to minority representation in government.
“Governments, even in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, always had a minority face in the cabinet. We are simply correcting an imbalance that existed since the formation of Telangana,” said Telangana Congress chief Mahesh Goud, defending the decision.
He added that the move aligns with the Congress’s ideology of inclusivity and representation across communities. “This is not about elections; it’s about fulfilling our promise of social justice,” he said.
Not yet a legislator
Azharuddin, however, is not yet a member of either the Telangana Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council, which is a constitutional requirement to hold a ministerial post.
He has been nominated to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota, but the proposal is still pending approval. According to the rules, Azharuddin must be inducted as an MLC within six months to retain his cabinet position.
Political observers say the Governor’s approval of his nomination could become another flashpoint between Raj Bhavan and the Congress government, given the ongoing friction between the two institutions on several administrative matters.
BJP-Congress sparring continues
Mocking the BJP’s objection, Congress leader Mahesh Goud pointed out that the saffron party had made a poll candidate in Rajasthan a minister even before the elections and that the candidate was later defeated by Congress.
“This kind of selective outrage only exposes BJP’s double standards,” Goud remarked.
Party insiders say Azharuddin’s induction is also intended to reinvigorate the Congress’s image among urban and minority voters, especially in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, where the party is looking to expand its base ahead of the 2028 assembly elections.
Background
Mohammad Azharuddin, 61, a former Indian cricket captain, represented Hyderabad and India across more than a decade of international cricket before entering politics. A three-time Member of Parliament from Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), he joined the Congress in 2009 and has since been active in Telangana politics, serving as the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) working president.
His elevation to the cabinet marks a new chapter in his political career and brings a familiar public face into the Congress government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.