Hyderabad: TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud alleged that the BJP was trying to block Mohammad Azharuddin’s inclusion in the Telangana cabinet. He said the move revealed the BJP’s intolerance toward minority representation and its fear of inclusive politics.
BJP’s objection to Azharuddin’s role exposes political insecurity, says Goud
Speaking to the media in Nizamabad, Mahesh Kumar Goud said AICC and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy were considering Azharuddin for a cabinet position. He said this was a well-deserved step to honour his decades of service. “Azharuddin’s record as a cricketer, MP, and public figure is known to all. He has represented the nation and Telangana with distinction,” he said.
However, he criticised the BJP for trying to politicise the decision. “Instead of appreciating a respected leader’s inclusion, the BJP is injecting communal politics. They cannot tolerate a minority leader gaining prominence,” he said. Consequently, he accused the BJP of working against the spirit of equality.
Congress defends its decision, cites BJP’s double standards
Mahesh Kumar Goud explained that the Congress government had always aimed to give minorities a voice in governance. “We wanted to include minority leaders in the cabinet right from the start,” he said. “However, no minority candidate won in the Assembly elections, so it wasn’t possible then,” he clarified.
Now, with the MLC opportunity available, the Congress planned to correct that imbalance. “Rather than supporting inclusivity, the BJP is obstructing it,” he said. Moreover, he accused the BJP of hypocrisy.
“In Rajasthan’s Karanpur by-election, the BJP government inducted its candidate Surendra Pal Singh into the cabinet during the campaign. If that was acceptable there, why oppose Azharuddin’s appointment here?” he asked. Therefore, he said BJP’s argument was politically motivated and inconsistent.
Goud alleges BJP-BRS coordination in Jubilee Hills by-election
He said the BJP and BRS were secretly coordinating in the Jubilee Hills by-election to weaken Congress. “As Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao pointed out earlier, their hidden understanding is becoming clearer now,” he said.
He added that BJP had no chance of winning minority votes. “Consequently, the party is using BRS as a proxy to divide the electorate,” he said. “These actions show BJP’s fear of minority empowerment and Congress’s growing strength,” he added.
Congress to move ahead with cabinet expansion
Mahesh Kumar Goud reaffirmed that the Congress government would proceed with the cabinet expansion as scheduled. “We are following every constitutional guideline,” he said. “Meanwhile, BJP is spreading confusion and pressuring the Governor to delay the process,” he alleged.
He said the BJP-led Centre was also obstructing BC reservations and Telangana’s welfare initiatives. “In fact, BJP creates hurdles for every programme that benefits the poor and backward classes,” he said.
Therefore, he urged people to stay vigilant and recognise what he called the “dark alliance” between BJP and BRS. “The people of Telangana will see through this conspiracy and reject both parties,” he said.