Hyderabad: The swine flu outbreak has shaken the medical and health department and put a big question mark on the future of Deputy Chief Minister and minister for medical and health Dr T. Rajaiah.

It is being rumoured that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is extremely upset and Dr Rajaiah might face the axe sooner or later due to the swine flu fiasco.

Mr Rao, who has been cautioning his ministerial team to be agile and respond quickly to public issues, is reportedly upset with the department for various reasons, including the recent filling of some paramedical posts and purchase of ambulances for 108, wherein allegations of corruption have surfaced.

“Yes, we could check corruption at the top level, but things are not that good at the grassroots level, which are giving a bad name to the government,” a minister said. The swine flu outbreak has come as an unexpected assault for the CM who has been going all out to enhance the brand image of Hyderabad as an international city and IT hub.

“Going by the spate of reports against the medical and health department, the departure of the health minister looks imminent. Mr Rao will wait for an appropriate time, if he decides to take action. But, a case is being built up against him going by my information,” a senior TRS leader told Deccan Chronicle.

The health minister and his aides did not respond to phone calls to seek their version. Hailing from the most backward Madiga community, Dr Rajaiah, who was elected as an MLA from Station Ghanpur (SC) in Warangal district, was made the deputy Chief Minister along with Mohd. Mahamood Ali, MLC from Hyderabad city.

The abrupt transfer of director of health R. Sambasiva Rao for alleged mishandling of the swine flu situation is the first indication of serious action being contemplated by Mr Rao in the health department.

In case he decides to drop Dr Rajaiah from the ministry, he will have to look for someone from the same community to replace him to avoid political ramifications. “Unless the CM has concrete evidence of lapses, he will not take action,” revealed a TRS source.