Interview: My innings has just begun, says Cabinet minister Mohammed Azharuddin, calls number 31 his lucky charm

Hyderabad: Cabinet minister Mohammed Azharuddin is elated and says that his patience has finally paid off. ‘Sabar ka phal hai,’ he says.

The Congress party in Telangana has made him a Cabinet Minister for his dedication, hard work and loyalty to the party. After swearing in at Raj Bhavan, Azharuddin and his team met with the senior party leaders and cadre. The cadre was joyous, and they came in large numbers to meet and congratulate him. They have worked for him in the last 10 years and are happy to see that it has finally paid off.

In a conversation with News Meter, he talks about how he is representing not only the minorities but all the people of Telangana.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

NewsMeter: Now that you have been sworn in as a minister, how do you feel?

Azharuddin: My debut in cricket started on December 31. I was sworn in as a minister on October 31. The number 31 is very lucky for me. This ministry is the hard work of a lot of people who are close to me and who have worked for me. I am grateful to all of them. I am also thankful to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud.

NM: The ministry has come at the time of Jubilee Hills elections, and there is a lot of hue and cry from the Congress Party leaders on the lack of Muslim representation. What do you have to say about it?

Azharuddin: We need to have patience and faith in the Congress Party, and that is what I have learnt. Whatever has been observed by the Congress Party leaders, they conveyed it to the Telangana party leaders. I believe that I got the ministry when it was destined to come my way. People will say 1001 things, and they will draw their own conclusions. I am thankful to my party for this opportunity to work for the people of Telangana.

NM: What are the portfolios that you will handle?

Azharuddin: Nothing has been decided for now. When it is decided, it will be declared.

NM: What do you have to say about the Opposition (BJP and BRS) allegations that this ministry is only for six months?

Azharuddin: The BJP and BRS must do their homework. Look at the ministers in the Centre. Have they won an election? And yet they are ministers. Whatever the Opposition is saying is for them to say. I trust the Congress Party, and the party has their own advisors, both constitutional and legal, who will guide accordingly.

NM: Will you be campaigning for Naveen Yadav?

Azharuddin: I have been there from day one, and so has my cadre. Whenever and wherever we are asked to go by the party we are going to. I was there during the nomination and recently in a rally too. There is too much fake news being spread, and I would request people not to fall for it.

NM: It is found that the AIMIM cadre is also working on the ground, and the Congress cadre is not very happy. How do you respond to that?

Azharuddin: The decision is of the party, and we are following that.

NM: How do you look forward to your ministry? There are a lot of expectations from you. Are you feeling the pressure?

Azharuddin: This game has just begun. Just like I put my best in the cricket field, I will put my best in the ministry. The innings have just begun. It is always good to have positive pressure, as it helps to deliver the best. I am eagerly looking forward to it and will give it my best shot.

As the interview ended, many of Azharuddin’s cadre, who had always been by his side, came over the greet him and express their happiness. He happily posed for photos with them and received their greetings and blessings

People are looking forward to Azharuddin’s induction into his ministry as a hope for the Muslim community to find more representation in political and social aspects of society.