TTD Trust Board Gets a New Face: BR Naidu Takes the Helm

The Andhra Pradesh government has revamped the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board, appointing media entrepreneur and philanthropist Bollineni Rajagopal Naidu as the new chairman. The 24-member board, which includes representatives from various sectors including politics, judiciary, and business, will oversee the governance of the esteemed shrine.

Notable Appointees:

Political Representation: Three Telugu Desam MLAs – Jyothula Nehru, Vemireddy Prasanthi Reddy, and MS Raju – have been appointed, with Prasanthi Reddy previously serving on the board as a YSR Congress nominee.

Prominent Figures: Former Union Minister Panabaka Lakshmi and Bharat Biotech co-founder Suchitra Ella are prominent additions to the board.

Pawan Kalyan’s Connection: Art director B Anand Sai, believed to be associated with deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, is also on the board.

National Diversity: The board reflects India’s geographical diversity, with members from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Judicial Representation: Justice HL Datt from Karnataka and Nannuri Narsi Reddy from Telangana join the board.

Local Representation: Interestingly, Tirupati district does not have a representative on the new board, despite local leaders from various parties hoping for a place.

BR Naidu’s Background and Vision:

BR Naidu, who hails from a farming family near Chittoor district, has a distinguished career trajectory. He began his career at BHEL, representing 12,000 employees as their union general secretary. His ties to the Telugu Desam strengthened during the Prajaswamya Punaruddarana movement under NT Rama Rao.

As the new chairman, BR Naidu has pledged to uphold transparency, accountability, and pilgrim welfare, emphasizing plans to enhance temple infrastructure and improve darshan access.

Other Board Members and Responses:

The board includes Janga Krishnamurthy, Jasti Poorna Sambasiva Rao, Sadasiva Rao Nannapaneni, Akkina Muni Koteshwar Rao, M Rajasekhar Goud, M Shantaram, and Janaki Devi Thammisetty. Several members expressed gratitude for their appointments and committed to contributing to the board’s mission of serving devotees.