At last, former chief priest of Lord Venkateshwara temple of Tirumala V Ramana Deekshitulu has got the reward for his patient waiting and of course, intense lobbying.
The YSR Congress party government headed by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to appoint Deekshitulu as the “agama advisor” of the Tirumala TirupDevasthanams (TTD). An order to this effect might be issued shortly, sources said.
Ramana Deeskhitulu, along with his two sons, is most likely to make an entry into the Tirumala temple in a day or two soon after getting the appointment orders. He will continue to be the advisor for his life time, sources said.
Ramana Deekshitulu was forced to retire by the previous Telugu Desam Party government on attainment of superannuation, along with three others, in 2018 after he made sensational allegations against the then chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on missing jewellery. Subsequently, he made serious charges against the TDP.
After Jagan came to power in May this year, Ramana Deekshitulu met him and requested him to restore his post in the Tirumala temple.
The chief minister then assured that he would revoke the order on implementing rule of superannuation in temples, as priesthood is a hereditary post.
Though Jagan government recently issued an order restoring the hereditary priesthood in temples and removal of upper age limit for priests for retirement, the order was not made applicable to the TTD which has its own set of rules.
A disappointed Deekshitulu made an appeal to Jagan to implement the orders for TTD as well, so that it would benefit hundreds of priests including him.
Though Jagan government has issued no such orders, it has now rehabilitated Deekshitulu in an honourary post that would satisfy him.