Hyderabad: Leading Muslim organisations have urged the Congress leadership and the Telangana government to increase Muslim representation in Telangana Cabinet and other key positions.
Maulana Md Hussamuddin Sani Jafar Pasha, Ameer of Amarat-e-Millat-e-Islamia Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, made the demand at a press conference in Hyderabad on Friday.
He released a letter addressed to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The organisations sought one more Muslim minister in the Cabinet. They also requested a Muslim MLC nomination and greater representation in Rajya Sabha and other nominated posts.
Muslim representation in Telangana Cabinet remains a concern
Maulana Jafar Pasha said Muslims account for nearly 14 per cent of Telangana’s population.
He said the community supported the Congress with the expectation of meaningful participation in governance.
The 16-member Cabinet currently has one Muslim minister, Mohammad Azharuddin.
He entered the Cabinet through the MLC route in October 2025.
The organisations said Muslim representation remained limited despite several Cabinet expansions.
The Cabinet began with 12 ministers in December 2023.
Later, the government added three ministers in June 2025.
Azharuddin joined the Cabinet during another expansion in October 2025.
However, Muslims continued to have only one Cabinet berth.
“If the Congress speaks of population-based justice, then Muslims in Telangana also deserve greater representation,” Maulana Jafar Pasha said.
Muslim representation in Telangana Cabinet tied to social justice
The letter included a community-wise breakup of Cabinet positions.
It argued that Muslims remained underrepresented when compared with their population share.
The organisations said upper-caste communities held seven ministerial positions.
Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Scheduled Tribes also had multiple representatives.
They argued that Muslims deserved a larger role in governance.
Maulana Jafar Pasha said the issue went beyond Cabinet positions.
He said Muslims also needed representation in chairmanships and other nominated posts.
He rejected the view that a few appointments were enough to address the issue.
The organisations also said electoral challenges should not prevent Muslim representation.
They urged the Congress to strengthen leadership development and candidate support.
Muslim representation in Telangana Cabinet compared with other states
The organisations cited examples from Karnataka and Kerala.
They said Karnataka has two Muslim ministers, the Speaker’s post and Rajya Sabha representation.
They also noted that Muslims form a smaller share of Karnataka’s population than in Telangana.
The letter pointed to Kerala as another example of stronger Muslim participation in government.
Maulana Jafar Pasha said political parties should not treat Muslims only as a vote bank.
Instead, they should recognise them as equal partners in governance and decision-making.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s slogan, “jitni aabadi utna haq”, he said the principle should apply to Muslim representation in Telangana Cabinet and other appointments.
He also urged Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to distribute responsibilities more widely.
According to him, broader representation would benefit both the government and the community.
Muslim organisations seek vigilance during voter verification
Maulana Jafar Pasha also appealed to Muslims to remain alert during the Special Intensive Revision process.
He said Booth Level Officers would visit households to collect information.
Therefore, citizens should keep all necessary documents ready.
He urged people to verify their personal details carefully.
He also asked them to help family members, neighbours and relatives complete the process.
He warned that negligence could create complications in the future.
Therefore, he stressed the importance of timely verification and proper documentation.
