Former Indian cricket captain and politician Mohammad Azharuddin’s scheduled induction into Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s Cabinet has drawn sharp objections from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, who see it as an attempt to influence the high-profile Jubilee Hills bypoll.
Azharuddin is set to be sworn in on Friday. The Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency has over one lakh Muslim voters, making his elevation a case of “wooing the electorate” ahead of a triangular contest between the Congress, BJP, and BRS.
On Thursday, the BJP lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission, calling the move a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
“It is an attempt to court the voters of a certain community and it is evident,” a BJP leader told The Indian Express. The BRS made similar allegations, saying the move was timed with the Jubilee Hills election in mind.
The BRS has held the seat since the formation of Telangana in 2014.
In response, the Congress said Azharuddin’s induction recognises his contributions as both cricketer and politician.
“There is a nexus between the BJP and the BRS and that is why they are opposing his elevation,” Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said at a press conference.
Azharuddin will take oath at 12.15 pm Friday.
In August this year, Azharuddin was nominated to the Legislative Council. His induction into the Council — the Upper House of the state legislature — had come under Governor’s quota. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy nominated veteran Telangana leader M Kodandaram and Azharuddin in August.
The total strength of the Council of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in Telangana is 18. The state currently has 13 ministers.
