Cricketer-turned-politician Mohammed Azharuddin is likely to be inducted into the Telangana Cabinet this week, senior Congress sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The development comes ahead of the crucial Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll, where the Congress is looking to consolidate support among Muslim voters.
“Senior Congress leader and former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin is likely to be inducted into the Telangana Cabinet on Thursday,” a party insider told The Indian Express.
Move Seen as Strategic Ahead of Bypoll
Jubilee Hills constituency has around four lakh voters, of which over one lakh are Muslims. Party insiders say Azharuddin’s elevation could bolster the Congress’s outreach to minority communities and strengthen its position in the Hyderabad region.
Azharuddin, who previously served as the Hyderabad Cricket Association president and represented Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) in the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014, has been an active face of the party in Telangana since the state’s formation.
The official announcement regarding his induction is expected on Thursday, sources said