Apparently getting the hint that his days in the Telangana cabinet are numbered, Deputy Chief Minister Dr T Rajaiah on Saturday made a desperate attempt to protect his seat by sacking his personal secretary and other officials in the health department, which is his portfolio.
Rajaiah met Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and tried to explain that he was not at fault for the spread of swine flu epidemic. KCR was getting ready to sack the minister for his inept handling of the swine flu situation, besides resorting to rampant corruption in his department.
He is learnt to have requested KCR to give him a last chance to improve his department’s functioning.
The Chief Minister had discussions with his senior Cabinet colleagues on what action could be taken against Rajaiah, whose inaction on swine flu led to loss of the government image in public. However, many of them told KCR not to sack Rajaiah immediately, as it amounted to admitting the fault of the government. Moroever, it might lead to protests from Dalits whom Rajaiah represents. Already, KCR is being branded as anti-Dalit, the ministers warned.
