Overview
- Raj Bhavan confirmed Governor Jishnu Dev Varma will administer the oath to Mohammed Azharuddin at 12:15 p.m. on Friday in Hyderabad.
- His induction raises the Revanth Reddy cabinet’s strength to 16 and makes him the first minister from the minority community in this government.
- The move, approved by the AICC, comes as Congress courts voters ahead of the November 11 Jubilee Hills bypoll, a constituency with a large Muslim electorate.
- The BJP has filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer alleging a Model Code of Conduct violation, and the BRS has also objected to the timing.
- Azharuddin’s August nomination to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota is still pending clearance, against the backdrop of a Supreme Court stay on earlier Governor’s-quota appointments.