Published Apr 26, 2026 | 9:36 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 26, 2026 | 9:36 AM
Mohammad Azharuddin and Prof M Kodandaram.
Synopsis: Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla gave his assent to the appointment of former Indian cricket team captain Mohammad Azharuddin and academician-activist Prof M Kodandaram as Members of the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota. The approval brings an end to a protracted period of uncertainty and legal manoeuvring that had stalled the nominations for nearly eight months.
In a significant political development, Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Saturday, 25 April, gave his assent to the appointment of former Indian cricket team captain Mohammad Azharuddin and academician-activist Prof M Kodandaram as Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) under the Governor’s quota.
The approval brings an end to a protracted period of uncertainty and legal manoeuvring that had stalled the nominations for nearly eight months. The Governor’s decision was communicated to the state government late Saturday evening, sparking celebrations among supporters of both nominees and providing a much-needed sigh of relief for the ruling Congress administration.
The former cricketer was sworn in as the Minister for Minority Welfare and Public Enterprises on 31 October 2025, despite not being a member of either the Legislative Assembly or the Council.
According to Article 164(4) of the Constitution, a minister who is not a member of the legislature for six consecutive months must vacate this office. With Azharuddin’s six-month deadline set to expire on 30 April 2026, the lack of a legislative seat had put his ministerial portfolio at high risk.
The governor’s clearance on Saturday ensures that Azharuddin can now take his oath as an MLC before the month-end deadline, securing his position in Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s Cabinet.
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The path to these appointments has been far from smooth. The issue of MLC nominations under the Governor’s quota has been a flashpoint in Telangana politics for over two years, spanning two different state governments and three different Governors.
The conflict began during the previous BRS regime when then-Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan rejected the names of Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana. This led to a legal battle that eventually reached the Telangana High Court and the Supreme Court.
After the Congress party took power in December 2023, the Cabinet recommended Prof. M Kodandaram and journalist Amer Ali Khan. While these were initially approved, they were later quashed by the high court following a challenge by the previous BRS nominees.
On 30 August 2025, the Telangana Cabinet sent fresh proposals to then Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, nominating Prof Kodandaram and Mohammad Azharuddin. However, the file remained pending at the Lok Bhavan as the Governor sought legal clarity regarding the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings.
The breakthrough finally occurred after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met the Governor earlier this week. He reportedly emphasised that the Supreme Court had not issued a stay on new appointments, but rather stipulated that any new appointments would be subject to the outcome of the pending litigation.
A retired professor from Osmania University, M Kodandaram, is widely regarded as one of the intellectual pillars of the Telangana statehood movement. As the Chairman of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), he played a pivotal role in mobilising various sections of society during the struggle for a separate state. His entry into the Council is seen as a recognition of his decades-long service to the cause of Telangana and his role as the founder of the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS).
A legendary figure in Indian cricket, Azharuddin’s political journey began in 2009 when he was elected as an MP from Moradabad. Despite a loss in the 2023 Assembly elections from Jubilee Hills, he has remained a vital asset for the Congress as the Working President of the TPCC. As the only Muslim face in the current Telangana Cabinet, his nomination carries significant weight for the party’s outreach to minority communities.
By securing the MLC seats, the government has managed to reward a key ideological ally in Kodandaram and stabilise the Cabinet by retaining Azharuddin. While the BRS continues to pursue legal remedies regarding their original nominees, the state government is moving forward with the gazette notification. The oath-taking ceremony for the two new MLCs is expected to take place early next week.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
