Hyderabad, October 31, 2025 – In a move blending sporting legacy with political strategy, former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin is poised to be sworn in as a minister in the Telangana Cabinet this afternoon, marking the third expansion under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's Congress government. The 62-year-old Congress leader, renowned for his elegant cover drives and controversial match-fixing past, will take the oath at 12:15 pm in the opulent Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, administered by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma. Invitations have been extended to senior party figures, underscoring the high-profile nature of this induction amid ongoing electoral buzz in the state.
Azharuddin's journey from the cricket pitch to the corridors of power has been a rollercoaster. A stylish batsman who captained India in the 1990s, he represented the country in 99 Tests and 174 ODIs, amassing over 6,000 runs and leading the team to memorable victories, including the 1987 World Cup semi-final run. Post-retirement, he ventured into politics, serving as a five-time Lok Sabha MP from Secunderabad (2004-2009) on a Congress ticket before a brief stint with the Telugu Desam Party. Rejoining Congress in 2019, Azhar contested the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections from the upscale Jubilee Hills constituency but fell short by a narrow margin of 2,934 votes to the BRS candidate.
His elevation to the Cabinet comes at a time when the Congress dispensation, in power since December 2023, faces mounting pressure from minority communities—particularly Muslims, who form about 12% of Telangana's population—for better representation. The current 16-member Council of Ministers (including the Chief Minister) lacks a Muslim face, a glaring omission that has drawn flak from opposition parties and community leaders alike. Azhar's induction fills one of three vacant berths, bringing the total to 17 ministers, and is viewed as a calculated outreach to consolidate support ahead of the high-stakes Jubilee Hills byelection, triggered by the resignation of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath. The byelection, scheduled for November 13, is seen as a litmus test for the Congress's urban appeal in Hyderabad.
While portfolio allocations remain under wraps—speculation swirls around sports, youth affairs, or minority welfare given his profile—the timing has ignited a political firestorm. The BJP has slammed the move as a blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), arguing it amounts to "vote-buying" to sway Muslim voters in Jubilee Hills. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, a Telangana heavyweight, accused the Congress of "resorting to desperate tactics" to mask governance failures. Similarly, BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao mocked the decision on social media, claiming it stems from Revanth Reddy's "sheer fear of defeat" in the bye-poll, and quipped that a real loss could force the government to fulfill all its unkept election promises.
Congress loyalists, however, are jubilant. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin dismissed the opposition's barbs as a "conspiracy" between BJP and BRS to derail Azhar's ascent, emphasizing his stature as a unifier for the youth and minorities. Azhar himself, speaking to reporters en route to Raj Bhavan, exuded confidence: "This is an honor for Telangana's people. I'll work tirelessly to deliver on Congress's guarantees—be it jobs, welfare, or sports development." His recent nomination to the Legislative Council under the Governor's quota (file still pending approval) paves the way for his ministerial tenure, but constitutional norms mandate he must secure election to the Assembly or Council within six months to retain the post.
As the clock ticks toward the noon ceremony, Azharuddin's swearing-in symbolizes more than a cabinet shuffle—it's a high-octane gamble in Telangana's polarized politics, where cricket's charisma meets the cut-throat arena of bypolls. With the Jubilee Hills contest looming, all eyes will be on whether this "lucky charm" from the '90s can turn the tide for Revanth Reddy's squad.
This report draws from official announcements, party statements, and on-ground developments as of 11:00 am IST on October 31, 2025.
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