Cong invites Azharuddin to contest election from Telangana

The Congress in Telangana has invited former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin to contest the next state Assembly election, due in 2019, reports PTI from Hyderabad.

"We are inviting him (Azharuddin)," state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

Reddy said he invited Azharuddin after the former cricketer expressed his readiness to play an active role in Telangana.

"If we work together again, our Congress government will come in Telangana," Azharuddin said at a public event here on Thursday.

To this, Reddy then said, "I am inviting you, in Telangana, whichever MP or MLA...you want to contest. We will call you to contest."

The state Congress would like Azharuddin to contest the polls in Telangana and also campaign for the party, he said.

Azharuddin, who is from Hyderabad, had earlier served as a Congress MP from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

He unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Rajasthan.