SIDDIPET: Like thousands of remote villages across the State, very little was known about Koinapally, a nondescript village in Nangnur mandal of Siddipet district. Situated around 12.5 km from Siddipet and 100 kilometres from Hyderabad, this tiny village, however, gained in prominence since 1983 thanks to the small temple of Lord Venkateshwara that is now the favourite of TRS supremo and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Back in 1983, KCR, the then TDP candidate in Siddipet Assembly constituency, performed special pooja at the temple keeping his nomination papers at the feet of the deity.
Since that well-documented visit back in 1983, the temple, as well as the village, gained in popularity even as KCR grew in stature. For KCR, who is considered a deeply religious person, a visit to the temple has become a must before elections since then. In the following elections, KCR contested from Mahbubnagar, Karimnagar and Medak Lok Sabha constituencies and every time he makes sure to visit the temple before filing his nomination papers. It will be no different this time too as the TRS chief will be visiting the Koinapally temple before filing his nomination for Gajwel constituency on November 14.
As KCR is expected to arrive by a helicopter, the officials have already made the arrangements, including the identifying a place to build a temporary helipad.
Special funds
According to the villagers, it was around 46 years ago, two villagers Ellareddy and Guruvareddy took the initiative of installing the statue of Lord Venkateshwara and the construction of the temple. Kanakaiah, a local resident, said ‘Chandrasekar Rao’s visits have made the temple more famous’.
“Chandrasekar Rao has visited the temple as an MLA, MP, minister and as a chief minister,” he said.
“After the formation of separate Telangana, the chief minister has sanctioned special funds for the development of the temple. About 2,000 square yards of land was bought to built the temple after removing the four houses which were adjacent to the temple. The house owner were also offered double bedroom houses in the village,” he added.
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Later, the chief minister has also sanctioned `3 crores for the expansion and development of the temple and `50 lakhs for the construction of kalyana mandapam on the temple premises. All the works are in progress.” Though KCR contested and lost from Siddipet in 1984, he will continue with his pre-election ritual this time too as he won every elections since 1985.