Azharuddin to take oath as Telangana minister today
HYDERABAD: Former cricketer and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin will be sworn in as a minister in the Telangana Cabinet on Friday afternoon. The oath taking ceremony will be held at the Durbar Hall in Raj Bhavan at 12.15 pm, with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administering the oath.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, ministers, and senior leaders are expected to attend the event. Sources said the CM decided to induct Azharuddin into the Cabinet and formally conveyed the proposal to the Governor, who issued instructions to the Chief Secretary to make necessary arrangements.
No bar under election code, say officials
With the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll underway, the government reportedly sought clarification from Election Commission officials on whether the model code of conduct would affect the swearing-in. Officials are said to have clarified that the code does not apply to Cabinet expansion, clearing the way for the ceremony.
BJP protests, cites legal violations
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have complained to the Chief Electoral Officer, alleging that making Azharuddin who faces several pending cases a minister while the election code is in force violates legal provisions. Union minister G Kishan Reddy and other BJP leaders submitted a representation to the CEO, calling the move “unconstitutional.”
BRS accused of political manoeuvring
Congress sources alleged that both the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and BJP were trying to block Azharuddin’s induction into the Cabinet to gain political mileage in the Jubilee Hills bypoll. “Azharuddin brought international recognition to India. Why should his appointment be opposed when even Rajasthan had inducted a candidate into the Cabinet before a bypoll?” said Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka.
