Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin becomes minister in Telangana government, administered oath by Governor
a
Former Indian cricket captain and senior Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Telangana cabinet on Friday. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office to the former cricketer at Raj Bhavan this morning. With his induction, the Telangana Congress government has gained its first Muslim representation in the cabinet.
The BJP has strongly criticized Azharuddin’s inclusion in the cabinet. Incidentally, Mohammad Azharuddin is neither an MLA nor a member of the Legislative Council. One of these positions is required to become a minister in any government. He has been nominated to the Legislative Council through the Governor’s quota, but the Governor has not yet signed the proposal. Meanwhile, he has taken the oath of office. To retain his ministerial position, he will have to become a member of the Legislative Council within the next six months.
Total number of ministers increased to 16
Before Azharuddin’s induction into the cabinet, the Telangana government had a total of 15 ministers, with no minority representation. According to the provisions, there was space for three more members in the cabinet. In such a situation, the government considered including a minority figure.
Azharuddin’s inclusion in the government comes at a time when the Congress party has made every effort to win the Jubilee Hills by-election. The Jubilee Hills constituency has approximately 100,000 Muslim voters, who could play a decisive role. In June this year, BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath died of a heart attack, necessitating this by-election.
Attempt to Manage the Jubilee Hills By-election
By including Azharuddin in the government, the Congress party has attempted to send a strong message for the upcoming by-election in the Jubilee Hills constituency. The Telangana Assembly has 119 MLAs. It is also being claimed that the Congress high command requested Azharuddin’s inclusion in the cabinet, following which he was given a place in the government.
