In an interesting move on Nov 28, 2021, the ruling YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh unanimously elected the governor appointee MLC Zakia Khanam as the deputy leader of the upper house in AP assembly – Legislative Council. This comes in the wake of vacant positions due to the retirement of chairman and deputy chairman of the council.
The outgoing chairperson of the Legislative council was Shariff Mohammed Ahmed from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and is replaced by Koyye Mohsenu Raju from the ruling YSRCP. This is the second top post given to a Muslim minority candidate in the cabinet of AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy with the first post given to Amjab Basha Bepaari. Basha is an elected legislature from the Kadapa Constituency and was handed over the key post of Deputy CM alongside four other ministers. He also holds the ministry of Minority Welfare.
Expressing happiness over her appointment as Deputy chairperson of the Legislative Council Zakia Khanam thanked Jagan for posing faith in her and handing this post to a minority woman. Jagan congratulated her on the new role and suggested that she should help and support women and acknowledged this as the state govt.’s step towards women empowerment in the state both politically and economically.
Hailing from the Rayachoti of Kadapa district, Zakia was earlier appointed directly by the AP governor on July 29, 2020, under the governor quota alongside Ravindrababu who was appointed under the MLA quota. Her husband late Mayana Afzal Ali Khan was a senior YSRCP leader who also served as a Chairman of the Marketing Committee.
Zakia during her swearing-in speech assured that she will contribute to the development of the constituency, besides the party. The ceremony was attended by Dy. CM Amjad Basha, Tribal minister Pamula Pushpa, Chief whip Srikanth Reddy etc.
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Syed Umar Ahmed is an engineer and an aspiring journalist.
