Follow UsEven without being elected to the Telangana state assembly, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Revanth Reddy-led government of the state. The state government, led by the Indian National Congress, used this move strategically to try and kill two birds with one stone.
As per media reports, Azharuddin, who previously served as the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association between 2019 and 2022, had previously lost the assembly election in 2023 from Jubilee Hills seat, is projected as the party’s candidate for the by-election on the same seat, necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath.
The elections, scheduled for November 11, coincide with the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections. Thus, the projection of Azharuddin, a minority candidate, is being seen as a positive signal to the party’s minority vote base in Bihar as well. He also became the first minority representative in the Revanth Reddy government.
Though a nominated member of the Telangana Legislative Council, Azharuddin’s appointment has not yet been signed by the Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.