This story is from October 21, 2017

Azharuddin finally on home pitch as Congress mascot

​Azharuddin said though he hails from Hyderabad and Telangana, he has been working to strengthen the party across India. Immediately, social media was agog with comments on the Telangana political pitch being opened for Azharuddin. Azharuddin has served as MP from Moradabad Lok Sabha in UP.
Azharuddin finally on home pitch as Congress mascot
Former India skipper and ex-MP Mohd Azharuddin.
Key Highlights
  • Azharuddin said though he hails from Hyderabad and Telangana, he has been working to strengthen the party across India
  • Immediately, social media was agog with comments on the Telangana political pitch being opened for Azharuddin
  • Azharuddin has served as MP from Moradabad Lok Sabha in Uttar Pradesh
HYDERABAD: A googly by former minister and leader of Opposition in state legislative council Mohd Ali Shabbir at a party programme at Charminar has thrown open the political field for former India skipper and ex-MP Mohd Azharuddin in his home state, Telangana. But sources told TOI, the cricketer may not bite the bait for the prestigious Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, but he is ready to be a mascot for the party in the state.

At Rajiv Sadbhavana yatra that was flagged off by AICC secretary and Telangana affairs in charge, RC Khuntia, along with TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and other senior party leaders here on Thursday, Azharuddin was presented with the Rajiv Sadbhavana award.
Speaking on the occasion, Azharuddin said though he hails from Hyderabad and Telangana, he has been working to strengthen the party across India and also referred to his campaign in Gurdaspur where the Congress candidate defeated the BJP nominee with a huge margin.
Azharuddin said he would offer his services in Hyderabad and Telangana, where he was loved by people during his cricketing stint. Telangana Congress leaders rarely invited him and if they work together, the Congress will come to power in Telangana.
Responding sharply, Shabbir Ali, who was next to speak, in his address admitted Azhar had not been roped in by the party for various Congress programmes and said the former cricketer will fight the next election from Hyderabad or elsewhere in Telangana, not from Moradabad or any other seat in any other state.
In their speeches, RC Khuntia and TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy too ratified what Shabbir said. Uttam Reddy invited Azhar to contest the next state election in 2019 from Telangana. "We are inviting him (Azharuddin) to contest from Hyderabad or anywhere in Telangana. He himself expressed readiness to play an active role in the state,” Uttam said. Uttam then directly told Azharuddin, “I am inviting you to contest from Telangana, whether as MP or MLA...it is your call.” The state Congress would like Azharuddin to contest and also campaign, said Uttam.

Immediately, social media was agog with comments on the Telangana political pitch being opened for Azharuddin. While many said Azhar would choose to contest from Nizamabad or Zaheerabad, others wanted Congress to pitch him against MIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, a battle that has been speculated upon for last many years.
On his part, Azhar refused to comment on his choice of seat and said he would abide by the party high command’s decision. Azhar could not be contacted despite repeated attempts by TOI.
Azharuddin served as MP from Moradabad Lok Sabha in Uttar Pradesh. He later lost the parliamentary election in 2014 from Rajasthan. However, he has never contested from his home town Hyderabad or the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh and later Telangana.
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