Telangana BJP leader K Laxman flayed the state government's decision to appoint tennis star Sania Mirza as the brand ambassador of the newly carved-out state, terming her as "daughter-in-law" of Pakistan and questioning her credentials for the honour.

Sania was born in Maharashtra and settled in Hyderabad only later and, hence, is a "non-local," Laxman told reporters in Hyderabad.

He sought to dub her as "daughter-in-law" of Pakistan,pointing out that she was married to Shoaib Malik, a Pakistani cricketer.

The 27-year-old tennis player had never participated in an agitation for a separate state of Telangana, said Laxman who is the leader of BJP in the state legislative assembly. Mr Laxman also accused the government of taking the step with an eye on the minority community votes in upcoming elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.