Hyderabad: The Telangana government has allocated key portfolios to newly sworn-in minister Mohammed Azharuddin. He has been entrusted with the Minority Welfare and Public Enterprises departments, both of which were previously handled by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The Minority Welfare portfolio was earlier held by Adluri Laxman before being reassigned to Azharuddin. The decision comes amid criticism from opposition parties over the lack of minority representation in the state cabinet.
Azharuddin, who was nominated as an MLC under the Governor’s quota two months ago, was recently inducted into the cabinet. His appointment assumes political significance ahead of the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election.
Since the formation of the Revanth Reddy government, no Congress leader from Hyderabad had been given a ministerial post. Azharuddin’s inclusion is therefore seen as a move aimed at strengthening the party’s presence in the city and consolidating minority support.