Bhumana Karunakar Reddy takes charge as TTD chairman for second time

Tirumala: The Tirupati legislator Bhumana Karunakar Reddy took oath as the 53rd chairman of TTD Trust Board in Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala on Thursday. He was administered the oath by TTD EO AV Dharma Reddy in front of the presiding deity.

After taking charge, Karunakar Reddy said that he is committed to giving priority to all devotees and will take forward the glory of Sri Venkateswara across the globe through a wide range of Dharmic activities.

This will be Karunakar Reddy’s second opportunity to lead the TTD board. He had earlier served as the TTD chairman when YS Rajasekhar Reddy was the chief minister, between 2006-2008. Karunakar Reddy is a close aide of the YSR family.

Before reaching Tirumala, the Tirupati MLA offered prayers to Goddess Tataiahgunta Gangamma, considered to be the sister of Lord Venkateswara. Later, he reached Sapthagiri Go Pradakshina Mandiram near Alipiri and offered Go puja.

After reaching Tirumala, following the temple tradition he visited the Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy temple and later reached Tirumala temple through Vaikuntham Queue Complex.

Addressing media persons at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala he said, “I wholeheartedly thank Lord Venkateswara who blessed me twice to be the chief of the world-renowned Hindu religious institution of Tirumala Tirupati Devathanams.”

“TTD has been successfully executing all its pilgrim-friendly activities in a big way in the last few years with the support of a dedicated strong workforce. The Andhra Pradesh government has allotted 43 acres of land to build houses for TTD employees and it will be taken up soon on priority,” he added.

He recalled the activities implemented successfully during his previous tenure as TTD Board chairman between 2006-2008. Among them were massive dharmic programmes like Kalyanamastu (free mass marriages programme), Dalita Govindam, Srinivasa Kalyanams, training to SC, ST, BC and fishermen communities in priesthood, hike in the salaries of temple priests, monthly Pournami Garuda Seva, Dharma Rathams, Chaturyuga Bandham, installation of 108 feet statue of Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya at Tallpaka on the occasion of the 600th birth anniversary of the saint poet, launch of Shravanam Project, Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel, establishment of Sri Venkateswara Vedic University, installation of the bronze statues of the Trinity of TTD Sri Sadhusubrahmanya Shastry, Sri Rallapalli Ananta Krishnamacharyulu, Sri Veturi Prabhakara Shastry, and free Annaprasadam distribution at various points.