Subba Reddy takes over as TTD chairman

Tirupati: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) senior leader from Ongole district YV Subba Reddy was on Saturday sworn in as chairman of the TTD Trust Board.

At a brief ceremony held in Garudalwar Sannidhi, inside the temple, TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal administered the oath of office and secrecy to Subba Reddy.

YSRCP leaders from various districts, including Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy, MP Vijaysai Reddy, Daggupati Venkateswar Rao (Ongole), Mekapati Rajmohan Reddy (Nellore), Srikanth Reddy (YSRCP chief whip), local MLA B Karunakar Reddy, MLA B Maduhusudhana Reddy (Srikalahasthi) and others were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

After swearing-in ceremony, Subba Reddy had a darshan of Lord and later observed along with his family members Tulabharam, an age old temple practice.

Earlier, Subba Reddy, along with his wife Swarnamma and some party leaders, came to the temple like a common pilgrim through Vaikuntam queue complex.

Speaking to the media outside the shrine after assuming office, the newly-appointed TTD chairman said that his top priority is to ensure hassle-free darshan to every devotee irrespective of their status – be it rich, poor or influential and enhance the image of the TTD.

Saying that it was the sheer blessings of Lord Venkateswara he was chosen by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to head the TTD, he said the CM had also insisted him before entrusting the responsibility to ensure improvement of facilities in a big way to see that the pilgrims coming from all over the world have a comfortable stay and darshan in Tirumala.

In this connection, he said that he would take party MP Vijaisai Reddy, who was former TTD Trust Board member and also local MLA Karunakar Reddy, who worked as TTD chairman having immense experience in TTD affairs into confidence for fine-tuning the TTD administration for the befit of pilgrim and also employees.

Subba Reddy said a probe will be initiated on the allegations, including missing of jewels from the Tirumala temple and also other irregularities.

Those found guilty will not be spared and every effort would be made to recover the missing jewels and also every paise, he asserted.

Reddy also assured that there will be no politics in the temple or in TTD affairs. He said all the pending issues of the employees and also locals will be taken up after the full-pledged board is formed.

On the severe water problem prevailing in Tirumala, he said he would discuss the issue with the CM in a day or two for taking required steps to find a permanent solution to resolve water problem in Tirumala.

Answering a question on Archakas' retirement age and also Tirumala temple chief priest, he said the issue was already discussed by Jagan Mohan Reddy with him before he was appointed TTD chairman.

The Trust Board will first discuss the issue before taking a decision and later Peetadhipathis' opinion will also be taken into consideration before the final approval of the CM.

Replying to a question, Subba Reddy said that due to technical reasons a full-pledged board was not constituted. A few more Trust Board members still to resign, he said, adding that all other members will be appointed in a week or ten days.

The TTD chairman and party leaders later visited Annaprasadam complex where they took lunch along with other pilgrims. Subba Reddy reached Tirumala on Friday evening on foot, climbing the hill through the pedestrian path.

On Saturday morning, he got his head tonsured before the swearing-in ceremony.