Telangana's Congress government appoints cricketer Azharuddin to Legislative Council amid legal and political controversy ahead of bypoll.

BRS leader KT Rama Rao criticized the Telangana Congress government for appointing former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota ahead of the Jubilee Hills bypoll, claiming Azharuddin was left "in the middle" without resolution. The move, made amid ongoing legal challenges to such nominations, has sparked political debate. Rama Rao alleged the Congress-BJP alliance influenced the appointment despite a Supreme Court ruling that halted new nominations until a pending case concludes. He expressed respect for Azharuddin but accused the government of political maneuvering, particularly after Azharuddin lost to the late BRS MLA in 2023 and was later removed from a party ticket. The bypoll follows the death of the sitting MLA, making the timing and rationale of the appointment contentious.