Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin has been sworn in as a minister in the Telangana government, a move widely seen as Congress’ calculated attempt to consolidate Muslim votes ahead of the crucial Jubilee Hills by-election on November 11.
Azhar, who lost from the same constituency in 2023 by over 16,000 votes, enjoys deep roots in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills where Muslims comprise nearly 30 percent of the electorate. His induction comes as part of the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Hyderabad, a region where the party failed to win a single seat in the last Assembly elections.
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath earlier this year. His widow, Maganti Sunitha, will contest for the BRS, facing Naveen Yadav of the Congress and Deepak Reddy of the BJP. The Congress hopes Azhar’s inclusion will boost its credibility among Muslim voters and project inclusivity in its leadership.
However, the decision has drawn criticism. The BJP has accused the ruling party of violating the Model Code of Conduct. The BRS has mocked the appointment, calling Azhar a “temporary minister,” given his nomination as MLC under the Governor’s quota is still awaiting approval. Meanwhile, political observers say the move reflects the Congress’s nervousness about retaining ground in Hyderabad ahead of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections.
With the AIMIM likely to guard its turf, Azhar’s appointment adds an interesting layer to Hyderabad’s political contest. Whether his star power can translate into electoral gains for the Congress remains to be seen.
