Political rivalry and lobbying over the coveted posts being cited as the main reasons behind the holdup

Composition of the Board (Total 18 members)

■   Chairman (1): Appointed by the Government, the Chairman leads the Trust Board.

■   Founder Trustee (1): Acts as a full-time member with voting rights.

■   Nominated Members (9): Appointed by the Government, this group includes:

■   At least one member from the State Legislature

■   One Scheduled Caste (SC) representative

■   One Backward Class (BC) representative

■   One Woman representative

■   Ex-officio Members (7): These members are part of the board by virtue of the official positions they hold:

■   Principal Secretary or Secretary, Revenue Department (Endowments)

■   Commissioner of Endowments

■   Executive Officer of the Temple – also serves as the Member-Secretary

■   Vice Chairman, Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority (YTDA)

■   Sthanacharya (Chief Priest) – or in his absence, the senior-most Pradhana Archaka

■   Chief Secretary to Government – appointed for an initial period of two years

■   District Collector, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri District – appointed for an initial period of five years

MAHESH AVADHUTHA I hyderabad

 It is nearing 100 days since the Telangana Assembly passed the landmark Telangana Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, but the much-anticipated Yadagirigutta Temple Trust Board is yet to be constituted. The delay is attributed to intense political competition, particularly from within the ruling Congress party’s Nalgonda unit, and the government's efforts to identify suitable candidates from diverse backgrounds.

The Bill, passed on March 18, paved the way for establishing a dedicated Trust Board for the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Yadagirigutta, modeled on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board in Andhra Pradesh. The government said the decision was driven by a sharp increase in pilgrim footfall, now exceeding 50,000 daily and the need for efficient, modern governance to transform the temple into a full-fledged “temple city.”

As per the amended law, the Yadagirigutta Trust Board will consist of 18 members — 10 nominated members including the Chairman, one Founder Trustee, and seven ex-officio government officials. All members must be practicing Hindus. Of the 10 nominated positions, the government must ensure representation for a legislator (MLA/MLC), a woman, and members from BC and SC communities — reflecting social balance and inclusivity.

Sources say while the ex-officio members and Founder Trustee are automatically part of the Board, intense lobbying has delayed the nomination of the remaining 10 members. Political aspirations have particularly surged within the Congress’ Nalgonda district leadership, as Yadagirigutta temple lies in their region. Prominent figures including Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Government Whip and local MLA Beerla Ilaiah, and other senior leaders like Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy are reportedly receiving a flood of recommendations from hopefuls.

The competition has made it difficult for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha to finalise the names. Adding to the complexity, the government also plans to induct influential business leaders and philanthropists known for corporate governance experience and potential to attract CSR funds for temple development and spiritual programs.

Officials suggest that if consensus is not reached soon, the Trust Board formation could be deferred until after the upcoming local body elections, including MPTC, ZPTC, Panchayat and Municipal polls as the model election code of conduct will be in place. Such a delay could push the announcement back by at least three more months i.e until September/October. As the state gears up for local elections, the formation of the Yadagirigutta Trust Board faces further delay.

It may be recalled that while presenting the Bill in March, Endowments Minister Konda Surekha stressed the need for professional temple management, especially for high-revenue temples. The Yadagirigutta Devasthanam reported an income of Rs 224 crore in 2023–24, placing it well above the Rs 100 crore threshold set for constituting such boards. The government also cited Vemulawada temple’s Rs 187 crore income as another example.

Surekha emphasized that a strong Trust Board is essential for implementing major infrastructure projects to accommodate rising pilgrim numbers, partly driven by the state's free bus travel scheme for women. “A board with experienced and visionary members is necessary to guide development, ensure transparency, and foster the temple’s social and cultural outreach,” the minister stressed at that time.