Ex-Indian cricket captain Azharuddin sworn in as minister in Telangana
Hyderabad (PTI): Congress leader and former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy’s cabinet on Friday.
In a simple function held at Raj Bhavan, Governor Jishnu Dev Verma administered the oaths to the former Indian skipper in the presence of important leaders, including the CM.
With the inclusion of Azharuddin, the total strength of the cabinet rose to 16, with room for two more. As per the Assembly strength, Telangana can have 18 ministers.
The former cricketer’s appointment to the ministry is seen as a crucial step as the Congress party has been fighting tooth and nail in the Jubilee Hills bypoll, where over a lakh Muslim voters could play a decisive role.
The bypoll is necessitated due to the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year, following a heart attack. Azharuddin was nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota by the Telangana government in August last week. However, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma is yet to clear the appointment.
Azharuddin unsuccessfully contested from the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency in the 2023 polls.
There has been a request from Telangana Congress to the senior party leadership to make Azharuddin a minister, as currently, there is no representation of minorities in the state cabinet. AICC also approved Azharuddin’s name, Congress sources had earlier said.
With the induction, the former cricketer becomes the first minister from minority communities in Revanth Reddy’s cabinet.
Another Congress leader said the AICC may have shown inclination towards Azharuddin’s induction into the Cabinet in view of the upcoming Assembly polls in Bihar, where there is a large chunk of Muslim voters.
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3 convicted for murder of Bengal councillor
Barasat (PTI): A court in West Bengal’s Barrackpore on Monday convicted three people for killing a councillor of Panihati Municipality in North 24 Parganas district.
Sanjib Pandit, Amit Pandit and Ziarul Mandal were convicted by the SDJM Court, Barrackpore, for the murder of Anupam Dutta, councillor of ward number 8 of the civic body in the city’s northern fringes, on March 13, 2022.
The court would declare the quantum of punishment on December 17.
Dutta was shot dead in the crowded Agarpara North Station Road, and his killing led to massive protests in the area in subsequent days.
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Local MLA Nirmal Ghosh had led a series of protests on B T Road and Tentultala More during March 2022, demanding the arrest of the assailants.
Police arrested one person based on CCTV footage, and nabbed two others after interrogating him.
Dutta's wife became the councilor following his death.
A large crowd from his ward, including many waving TMC flags, had on Monday assembled in front of the court premises, demanding strict punishment for the culprits.
