Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin will join the Telangana Cabinet during the ministerial expansion scheduled for day after tomorrow. Party sources confirmed that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) approved his induction and formally cleared the expansion plan.
AICC clears Telangana Cabinet expansion
The Congress high command has been working on the expansion for several days. Currently, the Telangana Cabinet includes 15 ministers, and the leadership plans to add three more. Consequently, Congress leaders decided to allocate one of these positions to Azharuddin, who represents the Muslim minority community. Traditionally, every Telangana Cabinet has included one Muslim minister, and this time will be no different.
Although several Muslim candidates contested the recent Assembly elections on Congress tickets, none managed to win. Therefore, the party leadership decided to bring Azharuddin into the Cabinet to ensure community representation.
Congress nominates Azharuddin for MLC post
Azharuddin contested from the Jubilee Hills constituency but lost. Later, the party nominated him for a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) post under the Governor’s quota. In addition, Congress selected Telangana Jana Samithi chief Prof. Kodandaram for another nomination. However, the Governor has not yet approved these names.
Even before the formal nomination process concludes, the AICC has permitted Azharuddin to take oath as minister. Moreover, senior party leaders in Delhi discussed the expansion plan extensively over the past two days and finally finalized the decision.
Congress ensures minority representation in Cabinet
Initially, the Chief Minister took oath along with 12 ministers, and three more joined in the next round. With three additional vacancies now open, the Congress leadership decided to offer one berth to the Muslim minority community.
If the Governor’s quota nomination faces delay, the party plans to elect Azharuddin to the Legislative Council within six months of his swearing-in. Meanwhile, Congress continues to evaluate which social groups will receive the remaining two Cabinet positions
