Hyderabad: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and Bharat Rashtra Samithi of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to prevent former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin from joining Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s cabinet.
TPCC spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin condemned both parties on Wednesday after BJP leaders filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer alleging Model Code of Conduct violations regarding the proposed Azharuddin cabinet induction. Nizamuddin characterized the complaint as evidence of systematic bias against minority communities.
The Congress official alleged that BJP and BRS parties collaborated to obstruct Azharuddin’s political advancement specifically because of his minority background. Furthermore, Nizamuddin cited previous statements by BRS MLC K. Kavitha that revealed a covert understanding between the two opposition parties.
Political collusion undermines Azharuddin cabinet induction prospects
Nizamuddin accused the BJP of deliberately fielding a weak candidate in Jubilee Hills constituency to benefit BRS, despite knowing its slim chances of victory there. Additionally, he claimed the BJP pressured the Governor to refuse administering the oath of office to Azharuddin as part of this broader conspiracy.
The TPCC spokesperson highlighted apparent double standards by referencing the BJP’s December 2023 decision to induct Surendra Pal Singh into Rajasthan’s state cabinet just twenty days before the Sri Karanpur by-election. Consequently, Nizamuddin questioned how the same party could now object to similar timing regarding Azharuddin’s appointment.
Nizamuddin emphasized that Azharuddin, who captained India’s cricket team for several years and brought international recognition to the country, merited cabinet representation. Moreover, he argued that the opposition stemmed from prejudice rather than legitimate procedural concerns.
The Congress spokesperson appealed to voters, particularly from minority communities, to recognize the alleged political collusion between BJP and BRS. Subsequently, he warned that both parties worked behind the scenes to weaken Congress influence while denying minorities their rightful political representation.
Nizamuddin concluded by affirming that the Congress government under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy remained committed to inclusive governance and would continue upholding justice for all sections of society.
