Mohammad Azharuddin appointed working president of Telangana Congress a week before state polls

Certain media reports say the disgraced former India captain was not pleased with treatment meted out to him within the party and the elevation is seen as an attempt to placate him. Reports also suggest that Azharuddin is keen to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Secunderabad constituency.

Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin. FILE PIC/AFP.

New Delhi: A week before crucial elections in the state, cricketer-turned-politician Mohammad Azharuddin was appointed as the working president of Telangana Congress Committee. The announcement was made in a communiqué posted by the party on Twitter. Certain media reports say the disgraced former India captain was not pleased with treatment meted out to him within the party and the elevation is seen as an attempt to placate him. Reports also suggest that Azharuddin is keen to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Secunderabad constituency. The Congress which is trying to strengthen its Muslim votes has promised free power supply to all temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship, and judicial powers to the Wakf Board, if it came to power. Telangana will go to polls on December 7, 2018 for its 119 assembly seats. Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11.

INC COMMUNIQUE

Appointment regarding office bearers of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee. pic.twitter.com/aaGV3uCB8r — INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) November 30, 2018

Meanwhile, earlier this month, cricketer Gautam Gambhir has lashed out at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for inviting Azharuddin for the first T20 International against the West Indies. Gambhir attacked Azharuddin for his alleged role in a match-fixing scandal. “India may have won today at Eden but I am sorry @bcci, CoA & CAB lost. Looks like the No Tolerance Policy against Corrupt takes a leave on Sundays! I know he was allowed to contest HCA polls but then this is shocking. The bell is ringing, hope the powers that be are listening,” Gambhir tweeted. Azharuddin was banned for life by the BCCI for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that rocked the cricket world in 2000. However, in 2012, the former captain’s ban was overturned by the Andhra High Court.