Mohammad Azharuddin Takes Oath as Telangana Cabinet Minister Amid Political Storm
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 62-year-old Azharuddin at a low-key ceremony at Raj Bhavan
Hyderabad, October 31, 2025 – In a move blending sporting legacy with political strategy, former Indian cricket captain and Congress stalwart Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Telangana cabinet today, marking the first Muslim representation in Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s administration nearly two years after the Congress assumed power.
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 62-year-old Azharuddin at a low-key ceremony at Raj Bhavan around 12:30 PM. The event, attended by Reddy, fellow cabinet members, Azharuddin’s family, and senior officials, elevated the council of ministers to 16 members—leaving room for two more under the assembly’s quota. Azharuddin, who took the oath in the name of Allah in English before concluding with “Jai Telangana” and “Jai Hind,” expressed gratitude to the party leadership and supporters, emphasizing that his induction was unrelated to the upcoming Jubilee Hills assembly bypoll.
“I am happy. I thank my party’s high command, the public, and my supporters. This has nothing to do with the Jubilee by-election. These are two separate matters and should not be linked,” Azharuddin stated post-ceremony, dismissing speculation tying his elevation to electoral gains.
In a post on his X, Azharuddin said, “Honoured and humbled to be sworn in today as a Cabinet Minister in the Telangana Government by Shri Jishnu Dev Verma Garu, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana. My heartfelt gratitude to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji, Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji, Smt Priyanka Gandhi Ji, and Shri KC Venugopal Ji for their trust and guidance. My sincere thanks to our Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri A. Revanth Reddy Garu, Shri Mahesh Goud Garu, Smt Meenakshi Natrajan Madam, Shri P. Visshwanathan Sir, and my esteemed colleagues in the Council of Ministers for their support. Above all, I thank the people of Telangana for their love and faith. I remain deeply committed to serving you with dedication, integrity, and purpose.”
The timing of Azharuddin’s appointment, however, has ignited fierce backlash from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Congress of “vote-bank politics” and violating the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the November 11 bypoll in Jubilee Hills—a constituency with an estimated 25-30% Muslim voters and over 3.98 lakh electorate. The bypoll was triggered by the death of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Maganti Gopinath from a heart attack in June.
BJP leaders, including state president Ramchander Rao and spokesperson Shashidhar Reddy, condemned the move as “appeasement” and an attempt to influence minority voters. “While the Jubilee Hills by-election campaigns are going on, the Congress government wants to make Mohammad Azharuddin a Minister… This is nothing but an attempt to woo and garner the votes of a section of the voters,” Rao remarked, adding that the party had lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer. The BJP further alleged misuse of official power, given Azharuddin’s recent bid for a Congress ticket from the same seat.
Countering the criticism, Telangana Congress chief Mahesh Goud defended the induction as a “long-overdue correction of imbalance” in minority representation, a tradition followed even in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh governments. TPCC spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin accused the BJP and BRS of colluding to deny minorities a voice in governance.
Azharuddin, a stylish batsman who captained India in 47 Tests and played 334 ODIs across a 16-year career, transitioned into politics after his 2000 match-fixing scandal implication led to a life ban (later overturned in 2012). He was recently nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota in August, paving the way for his ministerial eligibility despite not holding an assembly seat.
Portfolios for the new minister are expected to be announced by Chief Minister Reddy within a day or two, with speculation centering on minority welfare or sports-related departments. As Telangana’s political landscape heats up, Azharuddin’s entry underscores the Congress’s push to consolidate its base in a state where it clinched power in December 2023 after a decade of BRS rule.
