The Simhachalam temple chairperson Sanchaita Gajapathi Raju has landed in yet another controversy. It has not only created differences between the family of Ashok Gajapati Raju but has now opened up a fight between the YSRCP and TDP. Finally, the issue has come to a stage where the employees of Simhachalam temple are being threatened. There has been a report of a rift between both the royal families once again during the recent ‘Uttara Dwara Darshanam’ event.
For many years, the families of Anand Gajapati Raju and Ashok Gajapati Raju used to organise festivals as hereditary trustees. As part of this, the temple authorities have been allowing family members along with the Chairman for a darshan, as part of the tradition. Recently, the temple authorities wanted to invite Ashok Gajapati Raju’s wife Sudha Gajapati Raju. However, the chairperson Sanchaita Gajapathi Raju warned the authorities against doing such a thing. She warned the employees that except for her, no one should be invited, not even her family members for the ‘Uttara Dwara Darshanam’.
Incidentally, it is not a function related only to the chairperson and even the family members can be invited for the festival. Following the warning given by Sanchaita, none of the family members were invited to the event. The issue came to the fore after Gajapati Raju’s family had enquired about the invitation. The authorities told them that if they come after the visit of the chairperson, they can make darshan arrangements for them. Reportedly, the chairperson also misbehaved with the media and the personnel raised slogans against her in the temple premises.
Controversial since the beginning
The trust board, which was formed after many years, seems to have brought a new headache. Unable to bear the behaviour of the chairperson, many EOs have applied to relieve them from their duties.
Since then, the temple is under the incharge. The Annavaram temple EO was given full additional incharge. The temple was unable to manage funds for giving salaries to the staff in wake of the low income due to Corona. The authorities had to work against the chairperson who wanted to remove contract and outsourcing staff.
The Minister Muthamshetti Srinivas Rao appealed the endowments minister through CM Jagan to reinstate 183 employees and they were taken back on duties. Also, an unofficial person who has been residing in the Simhagiri Cottage for the last four months has been showing supremacy on the officials. This has made the staff annoyed.
In the name of OSD, she is providing Rs 50,000 per month as salary to a person and also asked the temple authorities to provide food. There are allegations that there were so many chairpersons but never in history, such drastic decisions were taken.
It is learnt that the CM Jaganmohan Reddy, who sought an intelligence report, was unhappy with her. It is said that the court cases against her are nearing completion and soon a decision is likely to be taken against her and she would lose her post.
