CM Chandrababu is under severe pressure. MP Rayapati Samba Siva Rao wants to resign for the post of MP to become the TTD chief. But there are allegations against him earlier in his life that he demanded for girls and he also got contracts in a big way from the Governments by illegal means. Will Babu oblige him is a big question.
Muddu Krishnama Naidu who is the MLC is also for aspiring for the post. Bojjala who was unhappy with Babu is also demanding for the post. Murali Mohan the rich MP also wants TTD post.
There is a heavy pressure on the CM Chandrababu for the prestigious post. Babu is in America right now. To get away from the political pressure for some time, the state government may appoint a ‘Specified Authority’ in place of a full-fledged Trust Board to manage the affairs of the biggest temple administration in the country — the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
The Andhra Pradesh state government may invoke Section 137 of the existing Endowments Act to appoint the ‘Specified Authority’. The state government is waiting for the curtains to be brought down on the present Board, led by Chadalvada Krishnamurthy.
The state government is not in a position to scrutinise nearly a 100 applications/representations placed before it by several aspirants to get nominated to the TTD Trust Board. Owing to the several critical issues arising out of the unilateral division of the state, apart from the present crisis in the state led by Chandrababu Naidu, the state temporarily may appoin the ‘Specified Authority’ to buy time, till it sets up a full-fledged Board.
Under Section 163 with Section 137 of Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 (Act. 30/87) the ‘Specified Authority’ will be constituted. The principal secretary to the government, revenue (endowments) department, could be the chairman.
Section 137 of the Endowments Act provides for appointment of a ‘Specified Authority’ for a period not exceeding one year. The state government would not take so much time in constituting a full-fledged Board.
The decision of the state government might come as a rude shock to the several aspirants within the party, who firmly believed that the state government would constitute a Trust Board.
If things go well as planned by Babu, then might appoint a chairman and also the board members. If the aspirants can make a compromise between themselves. Earlier one liquor king was appointed as the Chairman for the TTD by YSR the then CM. The CM must think twice before bowing to the pressure of Rayapati. Rayapati is purely a commercial man and has no proper character to be the Chairman of TTD.
U.Srinivas
Editor
