During the Jubilee Hills elections, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had inducted Azharuddin into the state cabinet to resolve differences among rival candidates, even though Azharuddin was not a member of either the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council. As per constitutional norms, a minister who is not a legislator must secure membership in either House within six months, failing which the ministerial position lapses. With no immediate MLC opportunity available, there was widespread speculation that Azharuddin’s ministerial tenure would be short-lived.
The situation changed after BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who had differences with her party and was later suspended, resigned from her post. Her resignation led to the vacancy of the Nizamabad Local Authorities Constituency MLC seat. Congress leaders are now considering fielding Azharuddin for this seat, viewing it as a viable route to ensure his continuation in the cabinet. The move is also seen as a precautionary step amid delays in other options.
Meanwhile, the recommendation to appoint Azharuddin as an MLC under the Governor’s quota has been pending for some time. Several petitions related to this issue are before the Supreme Court, due to which the Governor has not taken a decision. Despite expectations of eventual approval, the delay has forced the Congress leadership to explore alternative options. Azharuddin, who took oath as a minister on October 31 last year, must become a legislator by the end of April to retain his ministerial post.
Although there is a six-month window to conduct elections to the vacant MLC seat, the state government is planning to hold municipal elections first. Municipal polls are likely in the second or third week of February, after which a revised voters’ list will be prepared with newly elected corporators and councillors. The government is then expected to send a proposal to the Election Commission of India to conduct the by-election, with Congress leaders confident that a favourable outcome would make Azharuddin’s election largely a formality.