Azharuddin, Kodandaram Sworn in as Telangana MLCs Amid Legal Uncertainty

Hyderabad, April 2026 : Telangana Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin and noted academic and activist M. Kodandaram were sworn in as Members of the Telangana Legislative Council on Monday, marking a significant political development in the state.

The oath was administered by Legislative Council Chairman G. Sukhender Reddy at a ceremony held in the Assembly building. The event was attended by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, members of his Cabinet, Telangana Congress president Mahesh Kumar Goud, and other senior leaders of the ruling party.

Their swearing-in follows their nomination by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla under the Governor’s quota on Sunday. However, the state government has clarified that the appointments will remain subject to the final outcome of ongoing legal proceedings, indicating that the issue is not yet fully resolved.

According to the official notification, Azharuddin and Kodandaram have been nominated to fill vacancies created after the terms of former members D. Rajeshwar Rao and Farooq Hussain ended in May 2023. For Azharuddin, the nomination comes as a crucial development, as it allows him to continue in the Cabinet. Having taken oath as a minister on October 31, 2025, he was constitutionally required to secure membership in either the Assembly or the Council by April 30.

Kodandaram, who played a key role in the Telangana statehood movement, is also the leader of the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), which supported the Congress party during the 2023 Assembly elections. His induction is seen as politically significant, reflecting the alliance dynamics within the state.

The nominations bring to an end a prolonged period of uncertainty. The Telangana Cabinet had first recommended their names for the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota on August 30, 2025. However, the process was delayed due to legal complications and a case pending before the Supreme Court of India.

Earlier this month, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met the Governor to seek approval for the pending nominations. He also cited recent observations by the apex court indicating that it had no objection to the state government pursuing the matter with the Governor.

The controversy surrounding these nominations dates back to 2024, when Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan were initially appointed as MLCs. Their appointments were challenged by leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), including Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana, who argued that the nominations violated legal provisions.

The Telangana High Court subsequently set aside those appointments and ruled that the Governor could only return the Cabinet’s recommendation for reconsideration rather than reject it outright. The matter later reached the Supreme Court, which stayed the appointments and stated that any such nominations would be subject to the final outcome of the case.

Following the High Court’s ruling, BRS leaders renewed their request to be nominated. However, after the change in government, the Governor declined their request, leading to further legal challenges that are still pending.

Despite the legal complexities, Monday’s swearing-in strengthens the Congress party’s position in the Legislative Council. At the same time, the conditional nature of the appointments highlights that the final status of these nominations will depend on the judiciary’s decision.

For now, Azharuddin and Kodandaram have officially taken charge as MLCs, adding a new chapter to Telangana’s evolving political landscape.