The state government issued the order (GO 243) constituting the new Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board on Friday. It will have 29 members, including both regular and ex-officio roles. Bollineni Rajagopal Naidu, known in media circles as BR Naidu, is chairman of the board.
The board comprises 25 appointed members and four ex-officio members; a blend of political, religious and administrative figures. Among the 25 appointed members, BJP state spokesperson G Bhanu Prakash Reddy has been included at a late stage. This followed pressure from the BJP, an ally of the three-party state government.
Reddy had served on the TTD board during the Telugu Desam government from 2014 to 2019. His reappointment is perceived as a strategic move to boost the BJP’s visibility and sway within the TTD. “The BJP’s efforts for his inclusion reflect the party’s ambition to consolidate its influence over religious and cultural institutions in the state,” a BJP spokesperson said.
The board also includes four ex-officio members: secretary to the revenue and endowments department, commissioner of Endowments, chairman of the Tirupati Urban Development Authority and executive officer of TTD. Notably, the TUDA chairmanship, which includes automatic ex-officio membership on the TTD board, has sparked intense interest. The position is politically significant since it was reintroduced by the YSR Congress government in 2019 after it was amended by the TD in 2014.
It is now highly sought-a.