Mohammad Azharuddin (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: Cricketer-turned-politician and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin took charge of key portfolios in Telangana on Tuesday, days after being sworn in as a minister in chief minister Revanth Reddy’s cabinet. Azharuddin has been allotted the Public Enterprises department, previously held by the CM himself, along with Minorities Welfare, according to an order issued by chief secretary K Ramakrishna Rao.

The former Indian cricket captain, inducted into the cabinet on October 31, becomes the 16th minister, with two berths still vacant as Telangana is allowed up to 18 ministers based on assembly strength.Azharuddin’s inclusion is being viewed as a strategic move ahead of the November 11 Jubilee Hills bypoll, a crucial seat with over one lakh Muslim voters who could influence the outcome. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June.Interestingly, Azharuddin, who had unsuccessfully contested from Jubilee Hills in the 2023 elections — was nominated as an MLC under the Governor’s quota in late August. However, his appointment still awaits clearance from Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.