TIRUPATI: The State government on Wednesday announced the new governing board of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) with TV5 owner Bollineni Rajagopal Naidu, popularly known as BR Naidu, as the chairman.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s selection, while widely anticipated, formally ends weeks of speculation surrounding the composition of the TTD board.
With three MLAs from Andhra Pradesh, five members from Telangana, three from Karnataka, two from Tamil Nadu, and one each from Gujarat and Maharashtra, the Board includes a diverse group of people.
Another member is likely to be appointed soon, with the nomination anticipated to come from the BJP, an alliance partner of the State government.
Three Trust members — art director Buragapu Anand Sai, Telangana Jana Sena Party vice-president Bongunoori Mahender Reddy and JSP founder-member Anugolu Rangasri — were recommended by JSP president and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
Jaggampeta MLA Jyotula Nehru, Kovur MLA Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy, Madakasira MLA MS Raju, former Union Minister Panabaka Lakshmi, former Chief Justice of India HL Dattu and Bharat Biotech Co-founder and Managing Director Suchitra Ella were among the newly-appointed TTD board members.
However, a few supporters of the TDP, JSP, and BJP, who had lobbied actively for positions on the Srivari Temple Trust, faced disappointment with Naidu’s choices.
None of the board members from Tirupati
A surprising element was the absence of any members from Tirupati, where the TTD is headquartered. While BR Naidu originally hails from Chittoor district, he is now settled in Hyderabad.
A close ally of the Chief Minister, BR Naidu is the owner and chairman of vernacular news channel TV5. He is widely known for his philanthropy and work for the Hindu community.
Hailing from an agricultural family in Chittoor district, BR Naidu forayed into politics when TDP founder NT Rama Rao was the Chief Minister of the State. Over the years, he became a staunch advocate of the yellow party.
Panabaka Lakshmi, a former Union Minister, had previously contested the bypoll for Tirupati Lok Sabha seat. Her experience in public service and governance has secured her a spot on the TTD Board.
Known for her expertise in corporate operations, business development, and social responsibility initiatives, Suchitra Ella has also served as the Chairperson of CII (Southern Region) and leads CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities for Bharat Biotech.
New TTD Board
BR Naidu (Chairman)
Jyothula Nehru
Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy
MS Raju
Panabaka Lakshmi
Nannuri Narsi Reddy
Jasti Poorna Sambasiva Rao
Sadasiva Rao Nannanapeni
Krishna Murthy
Koteshwar Rao
Mallela Rajasekhar Goud
Janga Krishnamurthy
Darshan RN
Justice HL Dattu
Shantharam
P Ramoorthy
Janaki Devi Thammisetty
Bongunoori Mahender Reddy
Anugolu Rangasri
Buragapu Anandasai
Suchitra Yella
Naresh Kumar
Dr Adit Desai
Saurabh H Bora