Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla to push for the approval of pending nominations for Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin and M. Kodandaram to the Telangana Legislative Council. The Chief Minister, accompanied by other officials, urged the Governor to clear these nominations under his quota. This meeting followed discussions on administrative and legal matters between the Chief Secretary, Advocate General, and the Governor.
It has been almost six months since Azharuddin assumed office as a minister without being a member of the Legislative Assembly or Council. To continue in the Cabinet, he must be elected to either body by April 30. The Telangana Cabinet had recommended Azharuddin and Kodandaram for nomination to the Council under the Governor’s quota last year, but the file is still pending approval.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence in the Governor’s approval for the nominations, citing the Supreme Court’s lack of objection and the state government’s freedom to pursue the matter. The decision to nominate Azharuddin and Kodandaram as Members of the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota was made after a previous appointment was stayed by the Supreme Court following a legal challenge.
Both Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan, who were previously nominated as MLCs, faced legal challenges that led to a stay on their appointments. The Supreme Court emphasized that appointments under the Governor’s quota would be subject to ongoing legal proceedings. Kodandaram is associated with Telangana Jana Samithi, while Amer Ali Khan serves as the News Editor of an Urdu daily.
Following a series of legal battles and nominations, the issue of MLC appointments under the Governor’s quota remains unresolved, with various parties contesting the process and outcomes in court.
