Allu Arvind In Race For TTD Chairman's Post

Intense lobbying has begun for the posts in the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) administrative board, as the tenure of its present members came to an end on Friday.

Senior Congress leader K Bapiraju was nominated to the post of TTD chairman on August 24 last year, and he took his oath on September 2. While Bapiraju has been lobbying intensely for another extension, he faces tough competition from other contenders from the Congress.

Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, who openly expressed his displeasure after having failed to get himself nominated for the post last year, is trying hard to get the opportunity this time. Sources say that Rayapati is trying to project himself to the Congress High Command as the most suitable candidate for the post. However, another group of Congress leaders from Guntur is reportedly trying to foil his attempts.

Former MP T Subbarami Reddy, too is in the race for the coveted post. He had already served in the post for 2 terms, and had tried his luck for the third time. However, his failure to win the recently held by-elections from the Nellore Lok Sabha seat against YSRCP candidate Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy is likely to be a hurdle in his race for the post.

Another former chairman of the TTD, D K Adikeshavulu, is emerging as a strong contender. He is banking on his proximity with Rajya Sabha MP K Chiranjeevi, and his active role in the recent Tirupati by-elections.

However, Chiranjeevi himself is reportedly lobbying to get his brother-in-law Allu Arvind nominated for the post. Since only two leaders of erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party were accomodated in the state cabinet after the party's merger, he is said to be seeking Allu Arvind's nomination as the head of the prestigious TTD Board.

Sources say that the Congress high command is likely to take a final decision in this regard only next month. (INN)