Chicago – October 29, 2025
Former Indian cricket captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin is set to be inducted into the Telangana Cabinet on Friday, October 31. The Telangana Cabinet has recommended his nomination as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota, a move that is expected to bolster the Congress party’s appeal among minority voters in the state.
Azharuddin’s political journey began in 2009 when he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. He later served as the Working President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee and contested the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections from the Jubilee Hills constituency, where he was defeated by BRS candidate Maganti Gopinath. Following Gopinath’s passing earlier this year, a by-election for the seat is scheduled, and Azharuddin is expected to be fielded as the Congress candidate.
The decision to induct Azharuddin into the Cabinet is seen as a strategic move by the Congress to strengthen its position ahead of the upcoming by-election and to enhance its outreach to minority communities in Telangana.
