Congress move to induct Azhar, BJP complaint fuels talk of unholy nexus ahead of bypoll

The Congress plan to induct Mohammed Azharuddin into the Cabinet and the BJP’s MCC complaint against the move have fuelled speculation of a Congress-BJP understanding aimed at undermining BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha in Jubilee Hills by-election

Hyderabad: The Congress government’s decision to induct former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin into the Cabinet and the BJP’s subsequent complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) over the announcement have sparked talk of an unholy nexus between the two national parties.

Political observers say both the Congress and the BJP appear to be working in tandem to dent the prospects of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the Jubilee Hills by-election.

---

On Wednesday, the Congress government informally shared with select media its plan to induct Azharuddin into the Cabinet. The news soon made headlines and triggered debates across television channels and social media platforms. The government confirmed the same on Thursday, with invitations being sent out for the swearing-in ceremony on Friday at the Raj Bhavan.

Meanwhile, the BJP lodged a complaint with the CEO against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, alleging gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). In a letter submitted on Thursday, BJP Election Commission Affairs Committee chairman Marri Shashidhar Reddy said the proposal to offer a ministerial berth to Azharuddin was ‘nothing but an attempt to woo and garner the votes of a section of voters’ in the Jubilee Hills by-election.

“This proposal is an utter violation of MCC though it is not applicable to entire Hyderabad. The announcement, if made by the Chief Minister, will adversely affect the Jubilee Hills by-election,” Shashidhar Reddy wrote.

He pointed out that Azharuddin had contested as Congress candidate from the same constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections. “Taking cognisance of the Chief Minister’s announcement, which is made with malafide intention to woo a section of voters in Jubilee Hills constituency, which attracts MCC violation, and take immediate action to withdraw such an announcement,” he urged.

The letter was endorsed by BJP Deputy Floor Leader Payal Shankar as well.

Meanwhile, political circles are abuzz with speculation that the two national parties are acting in concert to counter BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha, who, according to several surveys, is said to be ahead in the campaign.