As the annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirumala approach, the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has yet to make a decision on the appointment of a new trust board for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
It is customary for the Tirumala Brahmotsavams to be held under the auspices of the TTD trust board, with its chairman inaugurating the celestial festival. This year, the Brahmotsavams are scheduled to begin on October 3, coinciding with the Dasara Navaratri festivities.
The TTD trust board is responsible not only for overseeing the arrangements for the Brahmotsavams but also for making key decisions regarding crowd management, providing amenities to pilgrims, and accommodating VVIPs, including the chief minister.
However, the Naidu government has not yet constituted the new TTD trust board, despite several names circulating for the TTD chairman post.
Official sources suggest that Naidu has shortlisted TV5 channel founder-chairman B. R. Naidu for the position, though no official announcement has been made so far.
Sources indicate that Naidu may have postponed the decision to appoint boards for various corporations and other nominated bodies, including the TTD, due to his preoccupation with relief operations in the flood-affected areas of the state.
It is speculated that, for the first time, the Tirumala Brahmotsavams may have to proceed without the TTD trust board, unless Naidu makes a swift decision now that the flood situation has improved.
In any case, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao and Additional Executive Officer Venkaiah Chowdawry are supervising the arrangements for the Brahmotsavams. Beautification efforts on the Tirumala hills have already begun, and road construction in critical areas has been completed.
However, if the TTD trust board were in place, it would provide additional reassurance to pilgrims during the Brahmotsavams.
