Former director of public health in Telangana Dr Gadala Srinivasa Rao, who shot into limelight with his pro-active approach during the Covid-19 pandemic, has finally given up his service on voluntary retirement, after making an unsuccessful attempt to enter politics.
The Telangana government on Monday issued an order approving his application for the voluntary retirement from service (VRS) with effect from August 8, after keeping it pending for over the last three months.
Srinivasa Rao has hit the headlines by openly expressing his desire to enter politics and contest the elections from his native constituency Kothagudem in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
He even floated an NGO in the name of his father and took up several social service activities as an attempt to gain entry into the politics.
He did not even hide his worship towards Bharat Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao and had touched his feet a couple of times in a bid to seek the party ticket for the last elections.
However, KCR did not even consider his name for the party ticket and gave the ticket to then sitting MLA Vanama Venkateshwar Rao, much to the disappointment of Srinivasa Rao.
Before the Lok Sabha elections in May this year, Srinivasa Rao suddenly made news by having his associates file on his behalf an application with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee seeking a Lok Sabha ticket from Khammam.
He went on a long leave to try his luck in politics, after he was stripped of the post of Director Health by the Revanth Reddy regime. But he did not get a chance even in the Congress party.
Later, Srinivasa Rao applied for voluntary retirement twice, but it was not granted. Finally, after repeated requests, his application was considered and he has now been relieved of his job.