Ex Telangana Health Director To Join Jana Sena

A social media post by former Telangana Director of Public Health Dr Gadala Srinivasa Rao on Tuesday has led to speculation that he might be…

A social media post by former Telangana Director of Public Health Dr Gadala Srinivasa Rao on Tuesday has led to speculation that he might be contemplating joining the Jana Sena Party, which plans to contest all future elections in Telangana.

Srinivasa Rao shared a WhatsApp status greeting people on Telangana Formation Day, featuring a photograph of Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

The post quickly attracted political attention, with observers interpreting it as a possible indication of his political alignment.

Srinivasa Rao has been openly displaying his intention to enter politics for the last three years, much before his retirement as Director of Public Health.

Ahead of the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections, he had prepared extensive groundwork to contest from the Bhadradri Kothagudem Assembly constituency.

Through the GSR Charitable Trust, he conducted free medical camps and several welfare activities in the constituency to strengthen his grassroots outreach.

However, he could not enter the electoral fray after reportedly failing to secure a ticket from the then-ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

During his tenure as health director, Srinivasa Rao was involved in several controversies beyond his official duties.

On one occasion, he drew criticism for touching the feet of then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and for making remarks crediting KCR with controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

He also faced criticism from the then opposition parties, which alleged that he was behaving like a political functionary despite being a government official.

However, despite his best efforts, KCR did not give him the party ticket from Kothagudem and instead preferred then sitting MLA Vanama Venkateshwar Rao, who eventually lost the election.

After the Congress government came to power in Telangana, Srinivasa Rao was shifted from the post of Director of Public Health. Subsequently, he opted for voluntary retirement.

After keeping a low profile for the last two and a half years, Srinivasa Rao surfaced again on Tuesday with his social media post greeting the people of Telangana on Formation Day, along with a large picture of Pawan Kalyan.

The social media post appeared within minutes of Pawan Kalyan declaring that Jana Sena would actively strengthen its presence in Telangana and contest future elections in the state.

Srinivasa Rao is believed to be assessing the political potential of Jana Sena in regions such as Kothagudem, where voters with Andhra origins, youth support and sections of Pawan Kalyan’s social base could influence electoral dynamics.

However, Srinivasa Rao has not yet made any official announcement regarding his political future.