Congress leader and former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin took oath as a minister in Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy’s cabinet on Friday. With Azharuddin’s induction, the cabinet strength increased to 16, leaving room for two more ministers, as Telangana’s Assembly allows a maximum of 18, according to PTI .

His appointment is considered strategically important, as the Congress is contesting the Jubilee Hills bypoll scheduled for November 11 , where the votes of over a lakh Muslim voters could prove decisive, the report noted.

The by-election has been triggered by the passing of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year due to a heart attack. In August, the Telangana government nominated Azharuddin as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota, but Governor Jis

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