In a desperate bid to tilt the scales in the Jubilee Hills bypoll, the Congress government has reportedly decided to induct former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin into the State Cabinet, even though he is not a member of either the Assembly or the Legislative Council.

He is expected to take oath as a Minister at the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Friday.

While official confirmation from the Chief

Minister’s Office (CMO) or the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) is awaited, sources indicated that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy proposed Azharuddin’s name, which was swiftly approved by the party high command.

The Congress leaders believe the move will counter the BRS campaign pointing to the absence of Muslim representation in both the Legislature and the Cabinet,

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