Telangana Health Minister removed after charges of land grabbing surfaced

Eatala Rajender, Telangana's health minister, was removed on Saturday amid charges of land grabbing. The post will be taken over by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The decision comes at a time when the state is seeing a surge in COVID-19 incidents.

“On the advice of the Chief Minister of Telangana, the Governor has approved the transfer of the Medical, Health Welfare portfolio from Eatala Rajender to the Chief Minister with immediate effect,” according to a statement from Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan's office.

Several Telugu channels, including TRS-owned T News, announced on the evening of 30th April that Eatala had forcefully occupied the land of several farmers from Medak district on the outskirts of Achampet village in Masaipet Mandal. Farmers reportedly protested to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao that Eatala and his supporters had forcefully taken over nearly 100 acres of their allocated lands in order to expand a hatchery owned by the Health Minister's family.

The Chief Minister's office reported shortly after the allegations emerged in the media that CM K Chandrasekhar Rao had ordered an investigation into the allegations. The Chief Minister has directed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to order a Medak District Collector-led investigation. Purnachandra Rao, Director General (Vigilance and Enforcement), has also been tasked with looking into the claims.

Eatala held a press conference on April 30 night, hours later, denying the accusations. He welcomed the CM's decision to order an investigation, calling the media stories a pre-planned attack to assassinate his character and malign his public image. “I also recommend that a sitting judge lead the investigation,” Eatala said.

Meanwhile, in Warangal's Kamalapur, Eatala's native village, a tense situation prevailed on Saturday. Police were sent to the village in anticipation of law and order issues. His supporters also blocked the highway in Shamirpet in protest of KTR, the TRS working president, and MP Santosh, a relative of the Chief Minister, alleging that Eatala's removal was part of a planned campaign.

Eatala is KCR's second unceremonious dismissal of a health minister. MLA T Rajaiah, who served as Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister during his first term, was also fired due to charges of corruption.

In 2019, Eatala was appointed as the Minister of Health. Between 2014 and 2018, he served as the Finance Minister during TRS' first term in office.