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Hyderabad, Nov 10 (IANS) Mohammed Azharuddin on Monday took charge as Telangana Minister for Minority Welfare and Public Enterprises.
The former Indian cricket captain, who took oath as minister on October 31, took charge at the Dr BR Ambedkar Secretariat.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, State Congress President Mahesh Kumar Gaur, Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Vakathi Srihari, Ponnam Prabhakar, Government Advisor Mohammad Ali Shabbir and other leaders congratulated Azharuddin.
Speaking to media persons, Azharuddin said that during his cricket days he never thought that he would become a minister. He said, “I had thought that I would become a cricket coach, but life took a new turn and I entered politics.”
The former cricketer said that he has reached this position by the grace of Almighty Allah and the blessings of his grandparents, parents and other members of his family.
He thanked the Congress central leadership and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for inducting him into the Cabinet, saying he would discharge his responsibilities efficiently and honestly.
He assured that he will try to resolve the pending issues related to minority welfare.
The former MP recalled that three months after entering politics he was asked to contest elections for Parliament from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency in UP. He said, “I can never forget the love and support I received from the people of Moradabad.”
Azharuddin said he contested the Lok Sabha elections from Sawai Madhopur in 2014, and though the result was negative, he got good support from the people.
Azharuddin, 62, is the first Muslim face in the Revanth Reddy-led cabinet.
In August this year, the state cabinet decided to nominate Azharuddin as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota.
He was inducted into the cabinet ahead of the by-election to Jubilee Hills assembly constituency on 11 November.
The former MP, who unsuccessfully contested the elections from his home constituency in 2023, was keen to contest again, but the Congress leadership decided to field Naveen Yadav and promised a cabinet berth to Azharuddin.
All the prominent Muslim candidates of the Congress party, including Azharuddin, had to face defeat in the 2023 assembly elections.
Azharuddin is currently the working president of the state Congress and a member of its Political Affairs Committee.
–IANS
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