During the review, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu raised concerns about potential lack of coordination between the TTD Chairman and the Executive Officer (EO) that might have contributed to the disaster.
Published Jan 10, 2025 | 2:56 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 10, 2025 | 2:56 PM
An ugly spat takes place between TTD chairman and EO (TTD Website)
An ugly spat took place between TTD chairman BR Naidu and Executive Officer J Shyamal Rao in the presence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday, 9 January, when he was trying to get a sense of what went wrong that led to the tragic stampede. The stampede claimed the lives of six devotees in Tirupati on Wednesday, 8 January, night.
According to a report published in the columns of Telugu News Daily, Andhra Jyothy, the differences between the two dignitaries reached a flash point as they entered into a verbal duel unmindful of the fact that the chief minister himself was presiding over the review meeting. The chief minister, who could not take it for long, put his foot firmly down.
The review meeting was held at the TTD administrative office on Kapilatheertham Road in Tirupati. After visiting the families of the deceased and those injured and recovering in hospitals, the chief minister met with officials to investigate the incident and determine who was responsible for the negligence that led to the stampede.
The meeting was attended by several key figures, including Minister in Charge of Tirupati District Anaganai Satya Prasad, Endowments Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Home Minister V Anita, and TTD officials.
During the review, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu raised concerns about any potential lack of coordination between the TTD Chairman and the Executive Officer (EO) that might have contributed to the disaster. This led to a heated exchange between the two dignitaries. TTD Chairman BR Naidu expressed his frustration to the chief minister, alleging that EO J Shyamla Rao was disregarding his authority. “He has no respect for me, even though I am the Chairman. Please speak to him and ask him to change his attitude,” Naidu requested.
Taking a serious exception, Shyamal Rao, shot back at the chairman, maintaining that he had been keeping him informed of all his decisions. “Let me know which decision I had taken without clearance from you?” he asked. The argument deteriorated into a noisy altercation with the two of them addressing each other in single person.
They began digging up old issues that should at best, be discussed at board meetings. Soon they began shouting at each other at the top of their voices, leaving the ministers and the other officials stunned.
The Chairman sharply confronted the EO over his claim that he had been kept informed about all decisions. “What exactly have you told me? Have you updated me on the plans for Vaikunta Ekadasi, which starts tomorrow (Friday, 10 January)? I’m the Chairman, yet I don’t know what’s happening here,” he said.
In response, the EO countered by questioning whether the Chairman was keeping him informed about the decisions he was making. “Are you keeping me updated on everything you’re doing here? What about the Srivani Trust issue? You called a press conference without consulting me, and spoke freely to the media. Did it ever cross your mind that this could cause problems for me?” she retorted.
As tensions escalated, Minister Anaganai Satya Prasad stepped in to intervene. He reminded the EO of the Chief Minister’s presence at the meeting. “Do you realize the Chief Minister is here?” he asked. “He is our boss, and it seems you’ve forgotten that. Why are you bringing up the Srivani Trust issue now? If you have a disagreement, put it in writing and raise it at the board meeting, rather than airing it here.”
Even as Anangani was trying to discipline the EO, the chief minister cut in, asking the minister to stop. The chief minister flew into a rage at both the chairman and the EO. Raising his voice, Naidu asked them whether they were aware of what they were talking about. “You are exceeding your limits. On whom are you letting out your frustration? There is a method to follow for everything. What is the context now and what are you talking about? Both of you work at the same place and both of you should have patience. You should have the sense to coordinate with each other.”
“How come it is missing between both of you?” he asked, adding: “When I can work in coordination with the chief secretary, why is it that it is becoming difficult for you? Aren’t we speaking to each other? How would the state progress if we do not? Why are you fighting? What is the language you are using? This is not proper. Stop arguing immediately,” he said.
The chief minister brushed aside yet another complaint that came to his notice about joint executive officer (JEO) Ch Venkaiah Chowdary. He said that he would attend to it at an appropriate time. “But both the chairman and the EO have to work in close coordination and there can be no two opinions about it,” Chandrababu Naidu said.
A while before the review meeting, the chief minister conferred with the TTD chairman separately for about 45 minutes in which the chairman explained to him the issues in administration, how the senior officials were acting and other pressure points related to quotas in force for Lord’s darshan.
The chief minister, after patiently listening to the TTD chairman, is understood to have come to the conclusion that there was a glaring lack of coordination between the Chairman and the EO. At the media conference later, the chief minister underscored the need for better coordination between the chairman, the EO and the JEO. “I have asked the chairman and the EO to set aside their egos and work hand-in-hand. Let there be no act of any sacrilege in Tirumala because of one’s ego or inefficiency or even by accident,” he said.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
