Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday accused the BRS and the BJP of jointly conspiring to block the induction of former Indian cricket captain and former MP Mohammad Azharuddin into the cabinet. He said Azharuddin was a celebrated sportsman who brought immense pride to India and earned global recognition for his achievements.
“Despite his contribution to the nation and his stature as a sportsman, the BJP is obstructing his entry into the Cabinet simply because of communal prejudices,” Bhatti charged at a press conference.
He reiterated that BRS leader K. Kavitha herself had earlier revealed the secret nexus between the BJP and the BRS. “It was with the covert backing of the BRS that the BJP managed to win eight Lok Sabha seats in Telangana in the last elections. The two parties are now using the same understanding to attack Azharuddin,” he alleged.
Bhatti said the BJP, knowing that it had no chance in the Jubilee Hills by-election, had deliberately announced a weak candidate at the last minute just to benefit the BRS. “Minorities in Jubilee Hills will never vote for the BJP, and this frustration is leading them to sabotage Azharuddin’s swearing-in,” he said.
He alleged that the BJP was putting pressure on the authorities and trying to influence the Governor to stop the oath-taking. “But I think the governor is a worthy person who will not succumb to that political pressure,” Bhatti said.
He added that the BJP had even complained to the Election Commission even though it had itself included by-election candidate Surendra Pal Singh in the Rajasthan cabinet just 20 days before a by-election in Sri Karanpur constituency, exposing its double standards.
Bhatti clarified that the Jubilee Hills electoral code applies only to that Assembly constituency, while Azharuddin is an MLC and the oath-taking takes place outside the constituency. “No matter how many conspiracies are hatched, Congress will remain steadfast in its commitment to inclusion and fair representation in every section,” he said.