Mohammad Azharuddin sworn in as Telangana Minister

Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain and senior Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin on Friday was sworn in as a Minister in the Telangana Cabinet at Raj Bhavan.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office and secrecy in the presence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and senior party leaders.

A move with political significance

Azharuddin’s induction is seen as a politically significant move aimed at broadening the Congress party’s representation in Hyderabad and among minority communities. Party sources said the decision reflects the leadership’s intent to blend experience, popular appeal, and regional balance within the Cabinet.

I Don’t Need Anyone’s Certificate,’ says Azharuddin

Newly sworn-in Telangana Minister Mohammad Azharuddin expressed happiness over his induction into the Cabinet and extended his gratitude to the Congress high command for the opportunity. “I am happy to have taken oath as a Minister and thank the party leadership for their confidence in me,” he said.

Stressing that his work would speak for itself, Azharuddin remarked, “The people of this country know who I am; I do not need anyone’s certificate.” He added that he would discharge his duties with complete sincerity, irrespective of the portfolio assigned to him.

“The decision on which department I will handle rests with the Chief Minister. Whatever the responsibility, I will perform it with full dedication,” he said, adding that he saw no need to respond to comments made by others.

From Cricket to Politics

A household name in Indian cricket during the 1980s and 1990s, Azharuddin captained the national team in 99 Tests and 334 One-Day Internationals, earning acclaim for his elegant batting and leadership. Following his retirement, he entered public life through the Congress and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) in 2009.

He contested the 2014 election from Tonk–Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan but lost to Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He contested the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election from Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad but lost to Maganti Gopinath of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi.

After the formation of Telangana, Azharuddin became active in State politics, serving as Working President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) in 2018, and played a key role in the party’s recent electoral campaigns.

Balancing representation

Congress leaders indicated that Azharuddin’s inclusion in the Cabinet was part of the Chief Minister’s broader strategy to ensure social and regional inclusivity in governance. His appointment, they said, also underscores the Congress’s effort to recognise senior leaders who contributed to the party’s revival in the State.

Opposition Slams Azharuddin’s Induction Amid MCC

Speculation continues over the Cabinet portfolio to be allotted to former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin, who was sworn in as the 16th Minister in the Telangana Cabinet on Friday.

The State Cabinet had, in August, cleared the names of Azharuddin and Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) founder Prof. M. Kodandaram for nomination to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota.

However, Azharuddin’s induction has triggered political controversy. Opposition parties alleged that the move violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which is currently in force for the Jubilee Hills Assembly byelection.

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Congress Government of using the appointment to appease minority voters ahead of the bypoll.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) echoed the charge, describing the move as a “last-ditch attempt” by the ruling party to consolidate minority support in the constituency, where they form a major share of the electorate.