Why Cong Wanted Md Azharuddin As Telangana Mantri Before Bihar Polls

Former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin joined the Telangana government on October 31, barely 10 days ahead of Jubilee Hills assembly by-election to be held on November 11. Azhar’s elevation as minister is being widely seen as an attempt to secure the support of Muslim community — about 1.3 lakh voters for the Congress in the high-stakes contest. Congress high command also wanted Azharuddin’s induction ahead of Bihar assembly elections. It is likely that as minister, Azhar will get a couple of days to campaign in Bihar. “Azhar’s entry will help us consolidate Muslim votes. Not just in Telangana but also in Bihar. Hyderabad MP and AIMIM leader Asauddin Owaisi, who is opposing us in Bihar has endorsed his elevation,” points out senior Congress leader Madhu Goud Yaskhi. Owaisi’s support for Azhar and the Congress is important at this stage as Telangana CM Revanth Reddy is keen to wrest the Jubilee Hills seat. Incidentally, Azhar had lost from Jubilee Hills in 2023 to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The by-election has been caused following the death of three term BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath. Even though BRS is not in a great shape at present, it has fielded Gopinath’s widow, Sunitha as its candidate hoping to cash in on a sympathy wave. As a Minister Azhar, he will enter the Telangana legislature as a MLC and that will be possible only after the Supreme Court paves the way. In August, the apex court had suspended the functioning of two MLCs, holding that their swearing-in under the governor’s quota was not valid and was based on a misinterpretation of its interim order. Meanwhile, did Azhar’s entry upset traditional Muslim leaders of the Congress? Not many leaders left anyway. Barring exception of Md Shabeer Ali, say sources.