Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin has officially bid farewell to his cricketing journey and taken a major leap into politics, being sworn in as a minister in Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s cabinet on Friday.
In a simple ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Governor Jishnu Dev Verma administered the oath of office to the Congress leader in the presence of key political figures, including the Chief Minister.
With Azharuddin’s induction, the Telangana cabinet now has 16 ministers, leaving room for two more as per the constitutional limit of 18.
The former cricketer’s entry into the ministry is being viewed as a strategic move by the Congress, particularly in light of the upcoming Jubilee Hills bypoll, where Muslim voters — numbering over one lakh — could play a decisive role.
The by-election was triggered by the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June following a heart attack. Azharuddin, who unsuccessfully contested the Jubilee Hills seat in the 2023 Assembly elections, was nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota in late August, though the appointment is still awaiting final clearance.
Azharuddin’s elevation marks a new innings — from the cricket pitch to the political arena, where his popularity and leadership are expected to strengthen Congress’ position in Telangana’s dynamic political landscape.
