Political Storm in Telangana Over Azharuddin’s Induction Into Cabinet
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Hyderabad
- Oct 31, 2025
- 546
A political storm has erupted in Telangana following the surprise induction of former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin into the state cabinet. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office to Azharuddin at Raj Bhavan on October 31, in the presence of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his cabinet colleagues.
According to reports, Azharuddin is likely to be assigned either the Home Ministry or the Minorities Welfare and Sports Ministry portfolio. His appointment marks the first Muslim representation in the current Congress cabinet — a move being widely viewed as both politically strategic and symbolically significant.
However, the decision appears to have caught several senior Congress leaders off guard. Mahesh Kumar Goud, President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), along with other top leaders, was reportedly unaware of the development prior to the ceremony.
Speaking to a select group of journalists on October 29, Goud admitted that he had “no prior knowledge of the decision,” according to Telangana Today. His remarks underscored the growing discontent within party ranks over the lack of consultation and unilateral decisions taken by certain members of the leadership.
Party insiders revealed that many senior leaders are upset about being excluded from key decisions and have reservations about Azharuddin’s selection, viewing it as an attempt to court Muslim voters ahead of the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election.
Eligibility Questioned
Notably, Azharuddin has yet to become a member of either the legislative assembly or council, a constitutional prerequisite for holding a ministerial position. Governor Varma has also not yet approved his nomination to the legislative council under the governor’s quota.
Under the law, Azharuddin must be made an MLC within six months to retain his ministerial berth.
BJP and BRS Slam Congress Move
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have sharply criticized Azharuddin’s appointment, calling it a political stunt to influence the November 11 Jubilee Hills by-election.
Both parties accused the Congress government of attempting to “woo the electorate” in a constituency with over one lakh Muslim voters, setting the stage for a triangular contest between the three major parties.
The BJP argued that the timing of the induction violated the Model Code of Conduct and has filed a complaint with the State Election Commission.
“It is an attempt to court voters of a particular community — the intention is evident,” a BJP leader told The Indian Express. Party spokespersons further alleged that inducting a person who recently expressed interest in contesting from the same seat amounted to an abuse of power.
The BRS echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the move was strategically planned with the Jubilee Hills election in mind. The seat has been held by the BRS since Telangana’s formation in 2014.
Congress Defends Its Decision
In response, the Congress leadership has defended Azharuddin’s elevation, emphasizing his political and sporting credentials.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka dismissed the criticism, alleging, “There is a nexus between the BJP and BRS, and that is why they are opposing his elevation.”
TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, despite earlier expressing surprise, also defended the appointment, stating to NDTV,
> “The Congress party had made a commitment to ensure cabinet representation for minorities. Even in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, every government included a minority face. We are simply correcting a long-overdue imbalance.”
The Rise and Fall of Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin, who captained the Indian cricket team from 1990 to 1999, was once celebrated as one of India’s most stylish batsmen. He made a historic debut in 1985, scoring three consecutive Test centuries in his first three matches and went on to represent India in three World Cups.
However, his illustrious career came to an abrupt halt following the 2000 match-fixing scandal, after which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a lifetime ban on him.
The ban was eventually overturned by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2012, paving the way for his return to public life and eventual entry into politics.