Shabbir Ali is new Opposition Leader in Telangana Council

Hyderabad, March 31 (INN): Senior Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir has been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Telangana State Legislative Council.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday wrote a letter to Legislative Council chairman Swamy Goud informing him that Shabbir Ali, who was the Deputy CLP leader, may be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition. “The MLC tenure of D Srinivas, MLC and Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council has been completed on March 29. The election for filling up of vacancies of the MLC seats in Telangana Legislative Council has not been finalised. The Deputy Leader of CLP, Shabbir Ali, may be appointed as Leader of the Opposition in the council till elections are held for filling up by the vacancies,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said in his letter.

Earlier, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh wrote a letter to the TPCC chief and Leader of Opposition K Jana Reddy informing them about the Congress High Command’s decision to appoint Shabbir Ali as the Leader of the Opposition.

Shabbir Ali began his political career in late 1970s in NSUI, the students wing of Congress party. Later he actively worked in the Youth Congress. He became MLA from Kamareddy seat in 1989 elections and also became minister in Marri Chenna Reddy’s cabinet at the age of 31 years. Although he lost two successive elections in 1994 and 1999, he gained prominence in the Congress party. He got re-elected from Kamareddy in 2004 elections and served as a minister in Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s cabinet. He was made a MLC after he lost 2009 elections. He also lost 2014 elections with a small margin from Kamareddy seat.

Shabbir Ali emerged as a strong leader in the party after the formation of Telangana State in June 2014. He was the major contender for the post of Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council. However, he lost to D Srinivas by just one vote in elections held on June 3, 2014. His elevation to the post of Opposition Leader became certain after Srinivas’ term as MLC came to an end on March 29 this year.