<p>Hyderabad: Former Indian cricketer <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/mohammad-azharuddin">Mohammed Azharuddin</a> was sworn in as a Cabinet minister in Hyderabad on Friday. His induction is widely seen as a strategic political move by the ruling Congress ahead of the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll slated for November 11. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office at Raj Bhavan in a brief ceremony attended by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other ministers.</p><p>Azharuddin’s entry comes amid objections from the BJP, which accused the government of violating the Model Code of Conduct. He is now the only minority representative in the Revanth Reddy Cabinet. With his inclusion, the cabinet's strength has risen to 16, though the state’s maximum permissible number is 18, including the Chief Minister. Revanth Reddy is expected to induct two more ministers in December as the Congress government marks two years in office.</p><p>To address discontent among senior aspirants, the Chief Minister also appointed P Sudharshan Reddy and K Prem Sagar Rao as chairmen of state-run corporations with Cabinet rank.</p>.Pitch to politics: Two cricketers become ministers in different Congress governments, while BJP makes them MPs.<p>Speaking to reporters after taking oath, Azharuddin dismissed claims linking his elevation to the upcoming bypoll. </p><p>"I thank my party’s high command, the public, and my supporters. This has nothing to do with the Jubilee Hills by-election. These are separate matters. I will work sincerely for the upliftment of the underprivileged. G Kishan Reddy can say anything. I don’t need anyone’s certificate of patriotism,” he said.</p><p>Opposition BRS has repeatedly accused the Congress of neglecting Muslim representation, noting the absence of any Muslim minister for the past 22 months.</p><p>Azharuddin had contested from Jubilee Hills in the 2023 Assembly elections but lost to BRS’s Maganti Gopinath, securing 35.03% of votes. To facilitate his induction, the state government has proposed nominating him to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota along with Prof Kodandaram. He must become an MLC within six months to retain his ministerial berth.</p><p>Following Gopinath’s recent death, there was speculation Azharuddin might be fielded again in the bypoll. However, with his Council nomination confirmed, the Congress has instead chosen Naveen Yadav as its candidate. The formal file for Azharuddin’s nomination is pending with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.</p><p>Sources in Congress party said Azharuddin will lead campaigning in Muslim-dominated areas of Jubilee Hills to consolidate the Congress vote bank.</p>
<p>Hyderabad: Former Indian cricketer <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/mohammad-azharuddin">Mohammed Azharuddin</a> was sworn in as a Cabinet minister in Hyderabad on Friday. His induction is widely seen as a strategic political move by the ruling Congress ahead of the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll slated for November 11. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office at Raj Bhavan in a brief ceremony attended by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other ministers.</p><p>Azharuddin’s entry comes amid objections from the BJP, which accused the government of violating the Model Code of Conduct. He is now the only minority representative in the Revanth Reddy Cabinet. With his inclusion, the cabinet's strength has risen to 16, though the state’s maximum permissible number is 18, including the Chief Minister. Revanth Reddy is expected to induct two more ministers in December as the Congress government marks two years in office.</p><p>To address discontent among senior aspirants, the Chief Minister also appointed P Sudharshan Reddy and K Prem Sagar Rao as chairmen of state-run corporations with Cabinet rank.</p>.Pitch to politics: Two cricketers become ministers in different Congress governments, while BJP makes them MPs.<p>Speaking to reporters after taking oath, Azharuddin dismissed claims linking his elevation to the upcoming bypoll. </p><p>"I thank my party’s high command, the public, and my supporters. This has nothing to do with the Jubilee Hills by-election. These are separate matters. I will work sincerely for the upliftment of the underprivileged. G Kishan Reddy can say anything. I don’t need anyone’s certificate of patriotism,” he said.</p><p>Opposition BRS has repeatedly accused the Congress of neglecting Muslim representation, noting the absence of any Muslim minister for the past 22 months.</p><p>Azharuddin had contested from Jubilee Hills in the 2023 Assembly elections but lost to BRS’s Maganti Gopinath, securing 35.03% of votes. To facilitate his induction, the state government has proposed nominating him to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota along with Prof Kodandaram. He must become an MLC within six months to retain his ministerial berth.</p><p>Following Gopinath’s recent death, there was speculation Azharuddin might be fielded again in the bypoll. However, with his Council nomination confirmed, the Congress has instead chosen Naveen Yadav as its candidate. The formal file for Azharuddin’s nomination is pending with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.</p><p>Sources in Congress party said Azharuddin will lead campaigning in Muslim-dominated areas of Jubilee Hills to consolidate the Congress vote bank.</p>