Mohammad Azharuddin Joins Telangana Cabinet as Minister, Becomes First Minority Representative in Revanth Reddy’s Team

Former Indian cricket team captain Mohammad Azharuddin officially took oath as a minister in the Telangana cabinet on Friday. The ceremony was held at the Raj Bhavan, where Governor Jishnu Dev Verma administered the oath in the presence of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and senior Congress leaders.

Azharuddin’s induction raises the cabinet strength to 16, with two positions still vacant as per the Assembly cap of 18 ministers. His appointment fulfills the Telangana Congress’s push for minority representation, as the current cabinet lacked members from the minority community.

Azharuddin, who was nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota in August, is also expected to contest the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-poll — a constituency with over a lakh Muslim voters. The by-election was called following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June.

Political observers believe the Congress high command’s decision to induct Azharuddin may also be influenced by the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, where Muslim voters form a key demographic. The former cricketer had earlier contested unsuccessfully from Jubilee Hills in the 2023 Assembly polls.