The Telangana Cabinet today nominated ex-Professor M Kodandaram and former Indian cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin for the two vacant MLC positions under the Governor's quota.
The government has submitted their names to the Governor for approval, in line with a recent Supreme Court ruling that required the Cabinet to re-nominate candidates for these posts.
Notably, while the Congress government retained Kodandaram, it sprang a surprise by nominating Azharuddin in place of Amer Ali Khan, who was the MLC earlier.
It may be recalled that BRS leaders Dasoju Sravan and Satyanarayana had moved the Supreme Court challenging the earlier appointments of Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan. Acting on their petition, the Court stayed the appointments.
For the unversed, Azharuddin has been actively campaigning to contest as the Congress candidate in the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election. His nomination as an MLC has generated significant buzz in political circles, with speculation mounting over who will ultimately represent the Congress in the by-election.
Azharuddin is also tipped to be made a cabinet minister given the intense pressure on the Congress government not having any Muslim in the cabinet.
filed in:Telangana, MLCs, M Kodandaram, Mohammed Azharuddin, Amer Ali Khan, Telangana Congress