Azhar formally joins Cong

19 February,2009 04:55 PM IST |   |  Agencies

Azhar will probably contest from one of the three constituencies falling in Hyderabad in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections


Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin formally joined the Congress on Thursday.

Azhar, along with party leader Verrappa Moily, addressed a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi make an announcement.

Talking on the occasion, Azhar said, "I'm not here to compete with anyone, I'm here to do good work and serve the people of the country. I greatly admire Rajiv Gandhi. Congress is the only party that has made sacrifices. I'd be happy to address any large political gathering."u00a0

Azhar will probably contest from one of the three constituencies falling in Hyderabad in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He is likely to be projected as the Congress' new Muslim face to take on the All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen.

Azharuddin had denied earlier reports that he might either join or campaign for the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections.

Despite his premature exit from the cricket following allegations of match fixing, Azharuddin still has a huge fan following.

One of India's most successful cricketers, Azharuddin's innings came to an abrupt end after a disciplinary committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a life ban on him in December 2000.

Azharuddin challenged the ban in a court. The case is dragging on. Azharuddin now runs a successful event management firm as well as a health club called Est.

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