The esteemed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), custodian of one of the world’s holiest temples, is facing a governance crisis, prompting unprecedented intervention by the Central Government.
Two recent tragedies—a stampede during the issuance of Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tokens on January 8 and a fire at a laddu counter on January 13—have raised serious concerns about TTD's management and its handling of key responsibilities.
In response to these incidents, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stepped in to address critical lapses in crowd control and security measures.
Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, Additional Secretary (Disaster Management) at the MHA, is scheduled to conduct a high-stakes review meeting with the TTD management on January 20.
According to an official note, Jindal will arrive in Tirupati at 8 PM on January 19 aboard the MGR Chennai Central Vande Bharat Express.
This intervention underscores a deepening crisis in the temple’s administration, where political interference appears to have overshadowed the sacred mission of governance.
Over the years, TTD management has increasingly been influenced by political agendas, diverting attention from the safety and well-being of the millions of devotees who visit the temple annually.
As the Central Government steps in, there is mounting pressure on TTD to refocus its priorities on effective management and the safety of devotees, restoring confidence in one of the most revered religious institutions in the world.
