Telangana: Portfolio shift triggers Dalit anger as Azharuddin gets Minorities Welfare

The Congress government's decision to reassign the Minorities Welfare portfolio from Dalit minister Adluri Laxman Kumar to Mohammed Azharuddin has triggered criticism and raised concerns over representation. The reshuffle has sparked speculation and discontent within party circles and beyond.

Hyderabad: The Congress government’s approach towards the Dalit community came under scrutiny on Tuesday after Scheduled Castes Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar was stripped of the Minorities Welfare portfolio, which was handed over to Mohammed Azharuddin.

Laxman Kumar, inducted into the cabinet on June 8 this year, was allocated SC, ST and Minorities Welfare portfolios. Azharuddin was offered a cabinet berth on October 31 and, after three days of suspense, he was allotted Minorities Welfare, held by Laxman Kumar, and the Public Enterprises portfolio held by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

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The decision to divest Laxman Kumar of one of his portfolios has not gone down well with many, particularly as it came close on the heels of BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar’s derogatory body shaming remarks against him last month.

The remarks had drawn condemnation from Dalit organisations and Laxman Kumar had demanded an apology. Just when the issue appeared to have settled after the TPCC stepped in, Laxman Kumar has now been stripped of one of his portfolios, which many say adds insult to injury.

Many questioned the reasoning behind allocating Minorities Welfare to Azharuddin only because he hails from a minority community, and asked why other portfolios were not considered. There was speculation in the Secretariat that the former cricketer would be offered the Home Ministry.

Under the previous BRS government, Mohammed Mahmood Ali, a minority community leader, held the Home portfolio.

Leaders in Gandhi Bhavan too expected that Azharuddin could be offered Home, which is currently held by the Chief Minister. Several felt that giving him the Home Ministry could counter the opposition’s charges of appeasement politics, especially ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election.

However, he was allotted Public Enterprises along with Minorities Welfare. The Congress government has been vocal about promoting sports in the State.

In contrast, Azharuddin, a former India captain with significant cricketing achievements, was not given the Sports Ministry. With his experience, he could contribute meaningfully, BRS leader and BITS Pilani alumnus A Rakesh Reddy said on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Though there is speculation that Azharuddin sought specific portfolios, including Home, this has not been confirmed, with the Congress top brass remaining tight-lipped on the deliberations.

Given his rapport with the Gandhi family, a section of leaders in Gandhi Bhavan believe Azharuddin might take up the issue with the Congress high command.