Hyderabad, February 28: Telangana Congress president and former Indian cricket team captain Mohammed Azharuddin is likely to throw a challenge to All India Majlis-e-Ittihadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his Hyderabad parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Azharuddin's name, along with other candidates, was shortlisted by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) for 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The TPCC has proposed two to five candidates for each Lok Sabha constituency. The screening panel of the All India Congress Congress Committee will now finalise the names. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has already made it clear that it would support Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad and expects his backing for its candidates in the remaining 16 segments. Mohammed Azharuddin Denies Report of Joining TRS to Contest Lok Sabha Election From Secunderabad.

Azharuddin has so far not revealed if he is willing to throw his hat in the ring in Hyderabad constituency, an AIMIM stronghold, represented by Owaisi for three terms now. "If the party high-command asks him to contest from Hyderabad, he will do so," a senior TPCC leader told PTI when asked if Azharuddin was indeed in the race.

There were earlier reports that he was keen to contest from Secunderabad, now held by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya. Reports also said he was trying to get a ticket to contest from Mumbai. Why Azhar? Gambhir Blasts CAB Invitation to Former Captain.

Azharuddin, who joined the Congress in 2009, was elected to the Lok Sabha in the same year from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh but lost the 2014 polls from Rajasthan's Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling TRS won 11 seats, the Congress two, and the BJP, AIMIM, TDP and YSRCP one each in Telangana.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 28, 2019 04:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).