Former Indian cricket team captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin has taken oath as a minister in the Telangana state government. On Friday morning, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office to him at the Raj Bhavan.
It has not yet been announced which portfolio Azharuddin will be assigned. However, his induction has filled a long-standing vacancy in the state cabinet. He has also become the first Muslim minister in the Congress-led government of Telangana.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized Azharuddin’s inclusion, alleging that it was done with an eye on the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election on November 11, where about 30 percent of the voters are Muslim.
The ruling Telangana Congress, however, defended the decision, calling it a fulfillment of the party’s commitment to social justice. State Congress president Mahesh Goud told NDTV, “Our party had pledged to ensure minority representation in the cabinet. Even in the former Andhra Pradesh, minorities were always part of the ministry. By including Azharuddin, we’ve simply corrected a long-standing imbalance.”
It is noteworthy that Azharuddin is not yet a member of the Legislative Council, which is a constitutional requirement for holding a ministerial post. He has been nominated to the Council under the Governor’s quota, though the Governor has not yet signed the appointment. According to rules, Azharuddin must become a member of the Legislative Council within six months to retain his ministerial position.