Previously, the Majlis boss could saunter into the Chief Minister's office or whisper to advisors for swift resolutions on waqf lands, scholarship delays, or mosque disputes. Now? He'll have to negotiate with his arch-rival, a man whose elegant off-drive Owaisi once admired on Hyderabad's maidans but whose political ambitions he views as a rank turner

V J M DIVAKAR  I hyderabad

In Telangana politics, where alliances shift faster than a spinner's googly, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has delivered a boundary-clearing stroke by inducting cricket icon Mohammed Azharuddin into the state cabinet. Sworn in on October 31 as the 16th minister, the former Indian skipper has been handed the portfolios of Minority Welfare and Public Enterprises. This move, timed just ahead of the Jubilee Hills assembly bypoll, isn't merely a nod to Azhar's star power—it's a calculated yorker aimed at the ramparts of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi's long-standing dominance over the state's Muslim electorate.

Owaisi, the fiery parliamentarian from Hyderabad, has long played captain fantastic in India's Muslim political landscape, much like his father, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, who turned the Majlis into a fortress for community interests. For decades, Asad has been the undisputed opener, batting unchallenged as parties from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the 1990s to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and now Congress have turned to him for support. In exchange, AIMIM has pocketed favours: enhanced welfare schemes, reserved quotas, and unchallenged sway in Old City strongholds. Asad's strategy? A no-balls policy on rivals—meticulously fielding close-in catchers to stifle any emerging Muslim leader who might threaten his team's line-up. He is been the lone ranger on this pitch," says a Muslim doctor "ensuring no one else gets to face the bowler."

But Azharuddin's entry has lobbed a full toss into Owaisi's crease. The 62-year-old legend, with 99 Test matches and a silken leg-side flick that mesmerized millions, brings more than just glamour. As a nominated Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and Congress loyalist, his induction marks the first explicit minority representation in Revanth Reddy's cabinet. Critics, including whispers from AIMIM circles, decry it as a cynical electoral googly—Congress leveraging Azhar's faith to woo back Muslim voters alienated by the party's national dalliances with the BJP.

For Owaisi, it's personal. Reports suggest the Majlis chief, who publicly congratulated Azhar on his oath-taking in a reported meeting, has quietly withdrawn unofficial support for Congress candidate Naveen Yadav in the Jubilee Hills bypoll. Just weeks ago, Owaisi had urged his cadre to back Yadav, meeting the young leader and stressing inclusive campaigning that "takes all communities along." AIMIM leaders, including MLC Mirza Rahmath Baig, even hit the streets alongside Congress workers, turning what could have been a three-way contest into a straight fight against the BJP's Maganti Gopinath.

Now, with polling just days away on November 9, the air crackles with tension. Sources close to AIMIM indicate a subtle pivot: no overt campaigning, no door-to-door huddles, just a polite fade-out. "It's like Owaisi has edged one to slip and walked off the field," quips a senior Congress organizer. This U-turn isn't coincidence—it's retaliation for Azhar's elevation, which clips Owaisi's wings on minority affairs. Previously, the Majlis boss could saunter into the Chief Minister's office or whisper to advisors for swift resolutions on waqf lands, scholarship delays, or mosque disputes. Now? He'll have to negotiate with his arch-rival, a man whose elegant off-drive Owaisi once admired on Hyderabad's maidans but whose political ambitions he views as a rank turner.

Both men share a love for the gentleman's game—Owaisi, a club-level all-rounder and Azhar, the maestro who led India to triumphs in the 1980s and '90s. Their shared passion could have been a bridge, but instead, it's fodder for rivalry. Imagine the dressing room drama: Owaisi, the fiery fast bowler, suddenly facing Azhar's impeccable timing at the non-striker's end.

The stakes extend beyond Telangana's turf. A section of the Muslim youth, drawn to Azhar's panache and Congress's development pitch, is already rallying behind him. Social media buzzes with memes of Owaisi "dropped in the slips" by Reddy's masterstroke, while Azhar's Instagram reels from his swearing-in draw lakhs of views. This fragmentation threatens AIMIM's very existence in Hyderabad, where the party's seven MLAs form a bloc that punches above its weight. If Jubilee Hills falls to Congress—polls predict a tight 52-48 split in Yadav's favor—the signal is clear: Muslim voters aren't a monolith anymore. Owaisi's clever play to abstain from fielding a candidate, opting instead for tacit endorsement, now looks like a misfield.

Zoom out to the national overs, and Owaisi's plate is fuller. AIMIM's audacious foray into Bihar, where it's fielding 25 candidates in the Seemanchal belt as part of a "Grand Democratic Alliance" eyeing up to 64 seats, is a high-risk lofted shot. Critics accuse it of splitting anti-BJP votes, indirectly aiding Nitish Kumar's NDA. Owaisi retorts with non-Muslim nominees to broaden appeal, but whispers suggest it's a hedge against southern setbacks.

For Congress, this is a six off the back foot. Revanth Reddy, the aggressive opener who scripted the party's 2023 Assembly upset, uses Azhar to counter BRS's K. Chandrashekar Rao, who once courted Owaisi. But, risks lurk: backlash from Owaisi's loyalists could dent urban Muslim turnout, echoing the 2024 Lok Sabha drubbing where AIMIM held Hyderabad but lost ground elsewhere.

As the bypoll whistle blows, Telangana's Muslim polity faces its sternest test. Will Azhar, the evergreen batsman, consolidate a new coalition, or will Owaisi's counterattack—a blistering pull shot—reclaim the crease? In this game of thrones, where portfolios are like prized bats and votes the cheering crowd, one thing's certain: the old guard's invincibility has been clean bowled. The real winners? A community long typecast as a swing vote, now stepping up to the podium as players in their own right.