Overview
- Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao issued the order allocating the two portfolios to Mohammad Azharuddin.
- With his induction, the cabinet’s strength stands at 16, below the statutory maximum of 18.
- The Public Enterprises portfolio moved from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, and Minorities Welfare was earlier handled by Adluri Laxman Kumar.
- Azharuddin was nominated as an MLC in August under the Governor’s quota, and Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has not cleared the appointment yet.
- The appointment is viewed as bolstering Congress prospects in the November 11 Jubilee Hills bypoll, where a sizable Muslim electorate could be decisive.