The race for the Chairman post of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has taken a curious turn with the senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders from the district reportedly throwing their hat into the ring.
Even though the name of the former Tirupati MLA Chadalawada Krishna Murthy was tipped for the coveted post by TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu himself publicly during the poll campaign, the issue has taken a dramatic turn in the aftermath of the polls which saw debacle of several TDP leaders.
According to the party sources, Mr. Krishna Murthy, a six-time MLA , albeit his humiliating defeat in the polls, still remains a trusted lieutenant to the Chief Minister. But, speculation is rife that the assurance of Mr. Naidu does not necessarily connote that Mr. Krishna Murthy should get the post. One has to take stock of the realities that their leader had laboured rigidly when the party was not in the power. Meanwhile, the supporters of Mr. Krishna Murthy remain unfazed and sound confident that Mr. Naidu will not go back on his promise. It is only a matter of time before their leader is compensated with the plumb post for his foregoing of the Tirupati Assembly ticket in the larger interests of the party, they said.