KCR sacks Rajaiah, appoints Kadiayam Srihari as minister

Hyderabad, Jan 25: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao sacked Deputy Chief Minister T.Rajaiah, who also holds the Health portfolio, from the Cabinet. KCR took this decision after consultations with senior TRS party leaders and forwarded the recommendation to Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan, who accepted the recommendation for dismissal. Rajaiah was immediately replaced with Warangal TRS MP Kadiyam Srihari and TS Governor swore him in this afternoon in Hyderabad. Srihari is likely to be allocated power and other portfolios, sources said. KCR is also likely to appoint Dr Laxma Reddy as the new health minister. Rajaiah was sacked in view of adverse reports on his functioning and failure to take preventive measures in controlling swine flu in the state, sources said. Sources said KCR was miffed with the flak his government drew due to the increasing death toll as a result of swine flu outbreak. There were also a several complaints on the happenings in the Health Ministry and therefore KCR decided to crack the whip.