Governor approves MLC nominations of Azharuddin and Kodandaram

In a key political development in Telangana, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Saturday approved the state government’s proposal to nominate former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin and Professor M. Kodandaram as Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) under the Governor’s quota. The decision comes as a major relief to the Congress government .

Azharuddin, who was sworn in as a minister on October 31 last year , is required under constitutional provisions to secure membership in either the Assembly or the Council within six months. With the deadline set to expire on April 30 , the approval assumes significance. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had met the Governor on April 19 to discuss the matter.

Professor Kodandaram, who played a key role as chairman of the Political JAC during the Telangana movement , also received the Governor’s nod for nomination.

Earlier, during the BRS regime, the nominations of Shravan Dasoju and Kurra Satyanarayana were rejected by then Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan , following which the matter went to court, causing delays in these appointments. However, Kodandaram had received a nomination in 2024 .

Welcoming the Governor’s decision, Telangana Congress president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud said that the inclusion of eminent personalities like Azharuddin and Kodandaram would enhance the stature of the Legislative Council and that their experience would greatly contribute to governance.