TTD chairman BR Naidu bans political speeches in temple premises

BR Naidu, the newly appointed chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) announced a strict ban on political speeches within the temple premises. Naidu made it clear that any violation of this rule would lead to legal action, reinforcing the sanctity of the holy site.
The ban comes at the heel of the controversy over the Tirupati Prasadam, where allegations of substandard ingredients in the preparation of the famous Tirupati laddus sparked public outcry.
This announcement was made during the newly formed Trust Board’s first meeting on Monday at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala. Chaired by BR Naidu, the meeting covered over 80 agenda items, with several significant decisions announced.
Naidu also addressed staffing issues, noting that non-religious employees would be offered Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS), with alternatives being considered for those who decline. This comes only days after Naidu had stated that only Hindus should be employed within the temple precincts.
BR Naidu outlined major initiatives, starting with plans to enhance the darshan experience for devotees. “With the aid of Artificial Intelligence, we aim to ensure that ordinary devotees can complete their darshan in just three hours,” Naidu said.
Naidu also announced plans to introduce a special darshan for local residents on the first Tuesday of every month. He also announced that the Sri Venkateswara Aalayala Nirmanam (SRIVANI) Trust, which was designed to channel donations towards temple development across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has been abolished and merged into another existing trust. Additionally, a Brahmotsava reward will be granted to TTD employees to recognize their contributions.
BR Naidu, who took over as the 54th Chairman of the TTD Governing Council earlier this month, expressed his commitment to managing the temple with transparency and dedication.