When the YSR Congress party led by former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was in power in Andhra Pradesh, there used to be a lot of criticism against certain leaders, particularly Nagari MLA R K Roja and Chandragiri MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy for misusing their authority in the Lord Venkateshwara darshan on Tirumala hills.
Roja and Chevireddy would not only come to Tirumala for frequent darshan of the Lord, but also bring scores of followers along with them to have the VIP break darshan. Many a time, they even violated the temple protocol.
Besides, they used to arrange VIP break darshans to hundreds of people and premium accommodation for them regularly. There were allegations that these leaders were making huge money by making these recommendations.
After TDP came to power, there was leakage of information to media how Roja and Chevireddy issued letters to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) recommending VIP darshan and accommodation to hundreds of people regularly.
But now, even the TDP legislators are proving that they are no different from Roja and Chevireddy. On Thursday, Chandragiri MLA Pulivarthi Nani behaved in the same manner of the YSRCP leaders.
Even as the TTD authorities are claiming that they are streamlining darshans and restricting indiscriminate issuance of tickets under Sri Vani Trust quota, Pulivarthi Nani came to Tirumala along with 300 party followers to have the VIP break darshan on Thursday.
Surprisingly, the TTD authorities have not taken any objection to Nani’s undue influence. In the normal circumstances, an MLA cannot recommend VIP break darshan to so many people. But they cannot dare raise any objection because he is a ruling party MLA.
If such a situation continues, it won’t take much time for the TDP government, too, to come under criticism from the pilgrims.
