Azharuddin, Kodandaram sworn in as Telangana MLCs under Governor’s quota

Telangana Minister Mohammad Azharuddin and retired professor M Kodandaram took oath as MLCs in the Governor's quota here on Monday. Telangana Legislative Council Chairperson Gutha Sukhender Reddy administered the oath to the two in the presence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, his cabinet colleagues and other leaders. Speaking to reporters after taking oath, Azharuddin, the former cricketer, thanked AICC leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, CM Reddy and Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla for the opportunity. Observing that the chief minister has been taking a slew of measures for the welfare of minorities, he said he would like to work for them and other sections of society as a minister. Asked about BRS allegation in the past that he was made a minister only to secure Muslim votes in the Jubilee Hills byelection last year and that he would not be continued in the post, he said his nomination as MLC is like a "slap" for such comments and that CM Reddy is undertaking many programmes for development of minorities.

When pointed out that he would have had to step down as minister had the Governor not approved of his nomination by the end of April, Azharuddin said he had confidence in the leadership of CM Reddy. Meanwhile, Kodandaram said he would work for the people's welfare with commitment. Governor Shukla on April 26 nominated Azharuddin and Kodandaram as MLCs under the Governor’s quota. The Governor approved their nomination as members of the Telangana Legislative Council, as per a government order. His approval comes after a prolonged delay, as Azharuddin, who was sworn in as minister for Minority Welfare on October 31 last year, is required to be elected to the legislature within six months, by April 30. Azharuddin was nominated as MLC under the Governor’s quota by the state government in August last year. Kodandaram, who played a key role in the Telangana agitation as chairman of the Joint Action Committee of political parties, was nominated as an MLC in 2024. However, the matter has been pending in courts after Sravan Dasoju and Kurra Satyanarayana, who were nominated during the BRS regime, filed petitions challenging their rejection by then-Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.