Congress leader and former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Telangana Cabinet on Friday. This came ahead of the bye-elections in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency on November 11.

The appointment triggered a political row in the state, with the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi claiming that it was a move by the ruling Congress to appease minorities ahead of the bye-elections.

The Jubilee Hills constituency has over one lakh Muslim voters, India Today reported.

Azharuddin had unsuccessfully contested the seat in 2023. The bye-election in Jubilee Hills was necessitated by the death of Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLA Maganti Gopinath in June.

On Friday, Governor Jishnu Dev Verma administered the oath of office to the former Indian cricket captain in the presence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in the Raj Bhavan.

The strength of the state Cabinet has now increased to 16, India Today reported. The state can have up to 18 ministers as per the strength of the Assembly.

Following Azharuddin’s induction, BJP leader Shashidhar Reddy claimed that the move was “nothing but an attempt to woo and garner the votes of a section of the voters in the upcoming Jubilee Hills bye-election”, the Hindustan Times reported.

He added that the induction was also a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which is a set of guidelines issued by the poll panel for political parties, candidates and governments to follow during an election.

Even though the code did not apply to the entire city of Hyderabad, the proposal to induct Azharuddin into the state Cabinet would adversely affect the bye-election in the Jubilee Hills constituency, of which the former cricketer was a voter, said Shashidhar Reddy.

Azharuddin had contested the Jubilee Hills constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections, the BJP leader noted. “So, offering him a ministry is nothing but a mala fide intention of the Congress to woo a section of voters in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency,” he said.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president KT Rama Rao said that Azharuddin’s induction was a “last resort to win over minorities”, The Hindu reported.

However, Azharuddin dismissed the claims.

“I am happy,” India Today quoted the Congress leader as saying. “I thank my party’s high command, the public and my supporters. This [becoming a minister] has nothing to do with the Jubilee bye-election. These are two separate matters and should not be linked.”

He added: “I do not need a certificate of patriotism from anyone.”

📰 Crime Today News is proudly sponsored by DRYFRUIT & CO – A Brand by eFabby Global LLC

Design & Developed by Yes Mom Hosting