metro india news  I hyderabad

Congress leader and former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin, on Thursday, declared his candidacy for the upcoming Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election, following the recent passing of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath.

Speaking to media outside his residence on Thursday, Azharuddin revealed that he is the official Congress contender for the seat, and emphasized his unwavering commitment to the party. He recounted how he received a ticket at the eleventh hour during the previous elections, fought hard, and lost by a narrow margin.

Azharuddin highlighted that he worked tirelessly in the Jubilee Hills segment to bolster Congress’ vote share in the recent parliamentary elections, outperforming all other constituencies within the Secunderabad Lok Sabha jurisdiction.

Addressing recent media speculation, he condemned deliberate attempts by certain individuals to mislead the public by spreading false narratives about his exclusion from the ticket race. He announced plans to take these matters up with the party high command.

Azharuddin vowed his allegiance to the Congress leadership, noting that he enjoys the blessings of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, the Gandhi family ( Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi) and strong support from CM Revanth Reddy, TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, and party in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan. He declared his mission: to win Jubilee Hills and present the seat as a victory gift to Rahul Gandhi.

The by-election has triggered intense speculation within political circles, with reports suggesting internal debate over candidate selection. While some factions are advocating for a fresh face, including senior leader P. Janardhan Reddy’s daughter Vijaya Reddy, Azharuddin’s proactive statement has shifted momentum.