Cabinet Expansion: Azharuddin's Entry set to ignite Telangana's Minority Momentum

In a sardonic swipe, political pundits purr that Azharuddin's swanky cabinet seat was KTR's cheeky consolation prize. Aspiring ministers, take note: schmooze G. Kishan Reddy, and who knows—your hotline to power might just buzz!

metro india news  I hyderabad

In the sweltering cauldron of Telangana politics, where cricket legends morph into electoral warriors, Mohammad Azharuddin's name is buzzing louder than a reverse swing on a dusty pitch. The former Indian cricket captain, whose silky cover drives captivated millions, is on the cusp of a stunning comeback—this time, not with bat in hand, but as a potential minister in Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's cabinet. 

Party insiders whisper of an oath-taking as early as in a couple of days time, filling one of three vacant berths in the 15-member cabinet (out of a 18-member cap). 62-year old Azharuddin's induction would shatter a glaring void: no minority representation in Revanth Reddy's lineup since Congress swept to power in December 2023. As the first Muslim minister, he'd symbolize inclusivity in a state where minorities clock 34% of voters, especially resonant in Hyderabad's cosmopolitan mosaic.

The timing? Pure political chess. With the Jubilee Hills by-election looming on November 11. Congress eyes a knockout blow. The constituency boasts 3.9 lakh voters, including a hefty 1.2 lakh Muslims , a bloc that could tip the scales. Azharuddin, who narrowly lost here in 2023's Assembly polls to Maganti Gopinath, is now Congress's secret weapon: door-to-door campaigning in Shaikpet's bustling lanes alongside advisor Mohammad Shabbir Ali and grassroots firebrands. "It's a masterstroke to consolidate minority votes," confides a party strategist, evoking Azharuddin's 1980s flair for the impossible.

Yet, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) greenlight masks hurdles. Nominated as an MLC under Governor's quota in August—after the Supreme Court axed prior picks—his appointment awaits Jishnu Dev Varma's nod, as per sources. No sweat, say optimists; the high command's nod trumps red tape. But opposition hounds scent opportunism. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, a few days ago, slammed Congress for hypocrisy, blasting their "Indiramma Rajyam" slogan while sidelining Muslims—no single MLA, MLC, or minister from the community. He cited Shabbir Ali's snubbed cabinet bid, jabbing, "If Rahul Gandhi admits betrayal elsewhere, what's Telangana's excuse?" 

Meanwhile, BJP MP D.K. Aruna piles on with fiery disdain, branding the move "vote-bank sorcery" to woo Jubilee Hills' over 1 lakh Muslim voters amid fears of electoral rout. "Congress is terrified of defeat and resorting to cheap tactics," she thundered, urging minorities to see through the ploy and reject it outright. Aruna lambasted the party for colluding with BRS to dupe the masses, botching the six guarantees, and indulging in "Dochuko" (Extortion) via fund looting and ministerial infighting dubbed "Panchayati." 

For Azharuddin, it's redemption arc redux. From match-fixing shadows to Lok Sabha stint in Uttar Pradesh, his Telangana pivot began with that 2023 drubbing. Now, eyeing portfolios like minorities welfare or urban development, he could finally anchor Hyderabad's long-overdue cabinet slot—absent for nearly two years despite it being the state capital.

As polling drums beat, this cricketer-politico's elevation isn't just a berth; it's Congress's bid to bowl out rivals in a high-stakes by poll. Will Azharuddin hit a century in governance? The pavilion waits, breathless.