TTD Board Chairman Refuses To Resign

Tirumala: Following the defeat of the Telugu Desam Party in the recently concluded assembly elections, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board members convened a meeting on Tuesday. While the meeting faced objection from the YSRCP leaders who demanded that the TTD Board Chairman and members tender their resignation immediately, contending that they were nominated by the outgoing N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government.

As per the convention, the political appointees by the previous government resign from their posts whenever a new government is formed. Senior Tollywood director K Raghavendra Rao resigned from the post of chairman of Sri Venkateswara Bhakti channel and so did Tirupati Urban Development Authority Chairman Narasimha Yadav. Similarly, Tirupati Gangamma temple trust Chairman RC MuniKrishan and other members, Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple trust board chairman Gouranga Babu also resigned their posts.

However, the TTD Trust Board chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav refused to resign from his post triggering a confrontation over the issue.

Several other TTD trust board members also declined to resign from their posts. So far, only one member, Challa Babu submitted his resignation to the Executive Officer A K Singhal.

Speaking to the media Tirumala, after the TTD trust board meeting, Putta Sudhakar Yadav said that their appointment is not political as they were appointed by the government and not the TDP. He further said that they shall give up their posts if the new government decides to abolish the board.

With the Chief Minister-designate and YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy set to arrive in Tirumala later in the evening on Tuesday, the TTD trust board members' refusal is going to build up the tension.

YSR Congress Gangadhara Nellore MLA K Narayana Swamy raised objections over the meeting on Monday and said that the TTD Board Members are nominated by the Chief Minister and they should resign adding that they are ineligible to conduct board meeting.

The meeting was convened to make some crucial decisions including absolution of the TTD in the controversial transfer of 1496 kgs of gold from Chennai to Tirupati which took place on April 18.

Tamil Nadu police had seized the gold which was being transported from Punjab National Bank in Chennai to Tirupati allegedly without valid permits and security.

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